Two Weeks

Updated sign outside The Federated Church in

Weatherford, Oklahoma

When this post goes online, it will be the exact two week anniversary of our arrival in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Thanks be to God.

I sit here in the living room of the parsonage, listening to Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection, Elton and Bernie Taupin's au mage to the American West, while I contemplate the blessings we have received since coming to this community in Western Oklahoma.

In a way, I first came to this community when I found the Federated Church online at the Presbyterian Church (USA) Church Leadership Connection (CLC) Website. For those who don't speak Presbese, CLC is the Presbyterian Church "Help Wanted/Pastors Available" website.

When I saw that the congregation was a federation of three different congregations, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Presbyterian Church (USA) under one roof, I was interested, and amazed.

I saw this and thought this was very interesting, sure; but more than that I thought that these people must be very interesting, very adaptable, and very in tune to the Holy Spirit for this to not only work but to thrive. I won't tell you I was right, that's giving myself credit I don't deserve. These people deserve all of the credit for being their own trinity: three denominations, one congregation. It's three faith traditions, but only one faith. These people are Christians first and foremost, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Arriving, Marie and I were overcome with wonder! The city isn't huge, but a University, on the Interstate, about an hour from the state capital makes a city of 10,000 more like a community of 25,000. The services, the people, the vibe of this town are a welcome change for us.

There is new hope here. I have a sense of hope and joy I haven't had in a long, long time. This is a hope and joy in doing what I have been called to do in a place I have been called to do it.

Tonight I've been reading some of my old blog posts. Many of these posts have an element of David's Psalms of Lament. (Others would say they are the rants of a man with depression... be that as it may, let's stay theological here.) I share my woes, I shake a fist at God and man, and I give thanks and praise God. Because God is God and I am not.

I feel like a Heisman winner right now. I want to thank God, because no one can do what God has done or what God will do. To God alone goes the glory. We also thank Jody and Suzy and the Search and Call Committee of the Federated Church who brought us here in the first place. I not only thank the congregation for voting to call us, but I thank the three who voted against us for taking the pressure off of me "to please everybody."

Being a perfectionist and a middle child, I want to please everybody. Not a good thing to do for theological and pastoral reasons. Since I haven't pleased everybody from the start, that actually takes a lot of pressure off of me! It doesn't stop hard work, it just kills my perfectionistic streak. Let's face it my perfectionist streak needs to be killed everyday.

Well, we're half unpacked. I need to go to the ETC Shop and Craig's List to look for book cases. Lots of book cases. Murphy's asleep on the floor. And Joe Jackson's playing right now. It's a good night and time to say good night.

God bless you all. God bless Weatherford. God bless The Federated Church. God bless you my wonderful wife Marie. God please bless me too. Amen!

RefuJesus-The Commentary

There's an old saying, if at first you don't succeed... I put it to the test today at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Shreveport. The sermon I preached today, "RefuJesus" is a version 2.0. I preached it three years ago at First-Marshall after having learned several lessons. Let me tell you what I learned and what I changed.

This time, I was certain to tell the congregation in no uncertain terms that this concept, the refugee status of Jesus and the Holy Family in Egypt was new to me too. At least twice I said this was new, different, and not the most orthodox way of looking at the flight to Egypt. I also mentioned it was still biblical.

By the way, as a version 2.0 I was not being dishonest saying this was new because the first time it was new and it did freak me out as much as it did and should freak out anybody who read this for the first time. I was sharing my honest first impressions.

The reader and listener will also notice that when I gave my version of the Nativity/Wise Man/First Part of Today's Reading, I used some emotionally charged language. I did this because I wanted people to react to the word of God and how it would look if it were happening today. I wanted us to be uncomfortable.

And that's why I used the Fosdick quote: "The purpose of the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

In short, I don't think the purpose of the gospel is to always make us feel better about ourselves. But I do believe that it should always make us know that our hope is in the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's not in our stuff. It's not in our skill. It's in our Lord.

That's the purpose behind sharing the Isaiah quote. Isaiah was sharing a reflection of God's mercy remembered while foreshadowing the work of Christ to come. How great is that?

In the end, there seemed to be two reactions. Those who said it was nice to have me back and those who said they really, really loved the sermon. I must admit, when a pastor lays it all out, and in my opinion that sermon is a one not everyone is ready (or maybe even willing?) to hear (can I refer you back to the congregation that heard a lesser version?).

But then again, Preaching and Worship professors constantly reminded us that the pulpit should always be approached with fear and trepidation. Yet, it should always be approached in the confidence of Christ.

There is no better tightrope in the world. Thanks to the good people of Broadmoor Presbyterian for walking it with me this morning. Thank you and God bless.

Mental Health

A funny thing happened last month. Actually, it wasn't so funny. It was pretty scary. Life caught up with me. Life caught up with me and I didn't know what to do next. Actually that wasn't quite true... I had a "good idea" of what to do next, but having taken a class in crisis counseling I knew what I was thinking wasn't a "good idea."

I guess there had been signs of depression going on for a long time. I had found several different ways to deal with it over the years. I could go on for several paragraphs and describe the dozens of ways I have practiced self-therapy and self-medicating over the years. I even met with reasonable success. Reasonable being the key word. But last month the whole thing came tumbling down.

In November I became totally and wholly nonfunctional. I told my counselor what was happening and she told me it was time for me to go to the hospital. I was in no position to disagree. I guessed the depression had finally gotten such a hold on me that I had to do something right before I did something wrong.

Saying yes to help wasn't easy, I probably should have said something months earlier but didn't. But when I finally did say yes, it was the best thing I ever did.

To make a long story short, my diagnosis changed. My diagnosis is no longer simple depression. I am now diagnosed as Bipolar II. In short, that means that I have depression, sometimes serious bouts of depression (this helps explain some of my blog posts, especially the "Lies My Father/Mother Told Me" series) with hypomania. Hypomania is a version of mania which is not euphoric mania but a version that shows up as strangely energetic, talkative, assertive, creative, and productive behavior. Sometimes hypomania can also lead to questionable behavior... like some of my more dubious jokes.

I share this for a several reasons. The first is this, I am healing. That's the most wonderful thing I can say. I am on the way to feeling the best I have felt in my life. Therapy and medication are doing wonders. The second is that this is a process. Like everyone else on earth I will have good days and bad days. And now I have better tools to deal with them than I had even three months ago. This will also make me a better Pastor one day too. I have seen what the bottom looks like.

I also want to say thanks to my family and friends who took care of Marie and me while I was in the hospital and while I have been unemployed. You have been a joy to us.

Finally, I want to share because I want you to be aware. You know someone who is Bipolar. Fear Not! Or at least don't fear me. I'm not going to snap and bite your head off. I'm not going to go postal. I may not be just like everybody else, but there is one thing I know, I'm still me. I'm Paul. I'm the fat man in the bathtub. And I'm glad you came to my blog.

Enjoy.

The Presbyterian Food Stamp Challenge

The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently did a food stamp challenge (view Outlook link here) to show how difficult it is to feed a family using the SNAP program's dietary guidelines. I commend everyone of the 300 Presbyterians who signed up to see how the other half lives. Unfortunately, they really didn't get a full view of how the other half lives, not from someone on this side of the poverty line.

You see, as you know, I am an ordained minister (Teaching Elder, whatever) in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The congregation I served chose to quit meeting together at the end of January this year. While I received a generous severance package, all things come to an end. To an end they came at the end of June. I was able to stretch the cash part of the severance out for a while longer, but the insurance ended promptly on June 30, 2013. That $711.25 has been coming out of my pocket ever since.

On a side note, the reason we kept this insurance is that we did not want to start our deductibles and copays over again. That would not have been cost effective.

As I was unable to secure any employment in my small East Texas town so I relied on God's generous blessings. Through friends, churches, and the SNAP program my wife and I were able to keep our heads above water. We are housed. Our car was paid off one month after I lost my job and some rather pricey repairs were covered--as was car insurance. Monthly expenses like gas and phone, because you gotta have a phone if you're looking for work, were covered for a while by several churches where I preached as pulpit supply, a real blessing.

Then it happened, our SNAP benefits were around $340 per month for two adults, one with special dietary needs. When it came time to reapply our benefits were cut, they were cut to $15 per month. Not by $15 per month but to $15 per month. This wasn't because of any political posturing as both my Republican and Democratic friends were so quick to point out.

The reason our benefits were cut were because I reported we got help and I reported I spent it on health insurance. You see, the State of Texas, the state of my residence, believes I should be spending my money on food and not on health.

So I have looked for jobs in the church, sending Pastor Information Forms to over 160 congregations where God has not called me. I have sent applications to banks, colleges, restaurants, tutoring services, pawn shops, and more places than I can remember. I finally have an interview and God willing will have incoming income soon.

You have been patient with me but now I imagine you would like me to come to the point. Years ago I worked in a Student Support Services TRIO program serving low income students. I thought this gave me a better idea of what it was like to be poor in America and I wasn't really wrong. Then I became a seminary student and a pastor in two different very small rural churches. While the blessings are wonderful they aren't monetary, I got a better idea of what living in poverty looked like. My wife's health began to deteriorate and she has been unable to work for five years--between loss of income and increase of medical expenses we are getting a real first hand view of poverty.

The point of my story is that nobody who took The Presbyterian Food Stamp Challenge unknowingly choose between health insurance and food stamps. Who would ever make that choice knowingly. Who would have ever thought that would be a forced choice.

In the end we're not that far from sleeping in the car. Only the Grace of God and the help of good friends has kept us out of it so far. So thanks to anyone who has spared us a room. Thanks to everyone who has sent us a check--and some of you have been quite generous. Blessings to all who have prayed for us because we have had some very rough patches too. And thanks to the 300 of you who tried to see how the other half lived. God bless us all.

A Retirement Party

Dear friends, allow me to introduce you to my New Balance 295's. I got them in Austin while in Seminary. I wore them while walking a two plus mile path for about two years while there. I have worn them while walking the track in Berryville, Arkansas. I wore them walking in Marshall, Texas. They've been around.

I even wore them while walking in Mexico. Mexico, Missouri that is--65265. It's the home of the Mexico Military Academy and the Miss Missouri Pageant. It's also where I was born and where my parents died.

So to say the least, these shoes have been around the block. They've gone through several insole replacements. They have carried me far and well. But today is their day.

The soles, while still having some tread, have failed internally. The roll bars now roll in ways they should not. They have been replaced by a new Nike. It's a good shoe, but I just don't see them lasting eleven years like these NB's.

Thanks for the support.

Again, we need your help

Add

Friends, 
The photo you see here is from our first date, seventeen years ago... oh what those kids didn't know then...

I have been unemployed now for over eight months. When the church closed I received a five month severance package. Because of friends and being frugal Marie and I have made this stretch three more months. Food stamps and odd jobs helped, but now we have reached the end of our rope and need your help again. 

We have medical bills from now to the end of the year that will come to over $5,000.00. Insurance alone will take 70% ($700 per month for five months-$3,500.00) of this. Medicine will chew up several hundred each month too. The rest is for copays.

Please know I don't come to this lightly. Many of you have helped with our car--help that covered all but $60 of that expense. In the meantime, I have applied to work at more than 100 different churches nationwide, all three local colleges, the Cable TV company, and dozens of other companies. It's not that I'm unwilling to work, but I am unable to find a job.

Friends, by God's grace I pray you can help.
Paul

Affirmation

There are days when it seems that nothing I say or do matters a lick in this world. Sometimes, on those days, I yell at the universe to see if anybody is listening. In the internet age this usually saying something or sharing something on Facebook or on my blogs.

Some days the universe answers and some days it doesn't. That's just the way it is. Then there are the days when the universe yells back at you. I've never had one of those days, but I have friends and acquaintances who know that feeling way too well. One friend wrote a blog post asking the world why private citizens need automatic and assault weapons at all. Believe me, the universe yelled back that day.

But sometimes, sometimes it's not a scream but a whisper that makes it worth while.

I preached at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on July 14th. St. Andrew recently lost their pastor and until recently were seeking an interim pastor. I was among a number of local pastors who filled the pulpit during the process. So walking down the hallway on that Sunday morning, a teenager came up to me, gave me a big hug around the neck, and said, "Oh good, you're my favorite."

I posted the girl's comment on Facebook and a friend from Junior High wrote, "It was like God sent someone to let you know He knows." This made me smile almost as much. No yelling at the universe, just a simple word from a teenager, and the love of God welcomes me saying, "You're doing what I want you to do. Keep it up. You don't need to shout."

Thanks Megan. Thanks Debbie. Some days I don't think anything I do matters. Other days I find out that it does matter. God bless you all.

Several Ways to Vote "Yes"

First-Marshall has been under stress for a long time, some of it financial. On Sunday December 16 the congregation chose to end the suffering and stress by deciding to close the doors. It was a surprise to find our woes in the local paper though, if you want to you can find it at this link.

The way the motion was worded, a "Yes" vote meant being in favor of closing the congregation. A "No" vote was a vote to continue. The congregation knew that voting no wouldn't end our troubles, it would just end the Session's time line.

Now, I saw a "No" vote as a vote of confidence that the Holy Spirit wasn't done with us yet. I saw the "Yes" vote as "nope, this is done." In the last 24 hours I have learned that there was more than one kind of "Yes" vote.

• I'm sure there was a group of folks who just wanted to see the church close. They think ministry is done in this place. They might also think I am done here too.
• Then there is a group who thought "If we go now we can leave a the pastor and the secretary with a generous severance." I know for a fact some of these people voted yes.
• Then there is the yes vote that was cast saying "Pastor Paul would give this a try and work himself to death doing this. I'm voting 'Yes' so this doesn't happen."

So as you see, I have discovered that two out of three ways to vote against my continued work in this city and congregation are actually a vote for me as a pastor and as a human being. 

I believe a PC(USA) presence is still viable in Marshall, but here is what I do know--It is unlikely to continue at this location. Also, with praise to God, Pastor Paul needs to seek a new call.

I was upset at the yes vote, I won't lie. What this vote does is offer freedom to a whole lot of people to seek where God is calling them to be next. For that I praise God.

"Advent" means "waiting." Lord God of heaven and earth, I wait for you, I wait upon you.

Our New Used Car, Part II

About two-and-a-half years ago, I published a blog called Our New Used Car. The blog featured pics of our new used Xterra. Well, we were in a wreck on Sunday and this is what it looks like today.

We are both safe and well, there were no injuries in the other vehicle either. State Farm does not want people commenting on accidents, so I will not. I haven't heard anything from the insurance company about whether it's been totaled or not, but I sure hope not, we need the vehicle.

Praise God the people are well and we have insurance for the stuff.

UPDATE! The estimate has come in at under Blue Book Value, so it looks like repairs are in order. I do so hope I'm right.

Patriots

When I saw this cartoon today, I felt it needed to be shared.

Then my mind started turning around the question “who is a Patriot?” This question took me to scripture and Jesus telling the story of the Good Samaritan. The Lawyer asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks the lawyer what the law says. The lawyer answers “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus congratulates him on being correct.

Then comes the next question, who is my neighbor? Jesus answers his question with the tale of the Good Samaritan. He asks the lawyer who the neighbor is in that tale. The Lawyer answers “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus tells the man he is correct saying “Go and do likewise.”

So who is a neighbor? The one who acts like a neighbor is your neighbor. It's not necessarily the one who is adorned in the robes and glory of the community. Their agendas may be filled with other needs or wants or desires beyond the one who is injured. The neighbor acts like a neighbor.

Who is a Patriot? A Patriot is someone who acts like a Patriot. Patriots definitely include the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. Especially those who make the final sacrifice. The American military is all volunteer. Not one member of our armed forces has been conscripted, forced to serve. They all want to serve this country and its people. They are Patriots. Their's is the blood that is the seed of Freedom's Tree.

When a young friend was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, I told her that I prayed that the civilians whose policies would become her orders were worthy of her patriotism. For worse, I believe there are many whose motivations are not truly patriotic, but in service to other goals.

The story of the Good Samaritan included a priest and a Levite, men of status and power who should have acted like neighbors. They weren't bad men. For the sake of the parable if they had come in contact with the man's blood they would have been unclean. Since by the story they were on their ways to Jerusalem, they were probably on their way to serve in the temple. They were on their way to work, doing their job, but they weren't being good neighbors.

There are many who put on the cloak of the patriot who serve other masters; some seek power, others money, others fame. Patriots fall everyday because of these priests and Levites.

So God bless the true Patriots. Those who serve this nation. God bless those who serve it in uniform and yes, those who serve it out of uniform. And may God convict those who drape themselves in patriotism to serve another master.

Thanks to all the Good People of First Pres Marshall and Glory Be to God!

Last Sunday was my first Easter at the First Presbyterian Church in Marshall, Texas. It was a wonderful and glorious experience.

We celebrated and celebrated! We welcomed a new member into the Body of Christ as Jerry and Lea's baby was baptized. We celebrated as Lea joined the church. We celebrated as newborn Elizabeth Fern was paraded through the congregation by her proud grandmother. We heard a minute for mission about the Texas Wildfires and collected an offering through the PC(USA)'s One Great Hour of Sharing program.

We sang and we celebrated. This comes with special thanks and praise to God for Georgia and Al, our wonderful worship team. We three selected the music, Al and I do the hymns while Georgia picks out all of the instrumental pieces, and they led us in song!

We read scripture and interpreted the word of God. And if you missed the sermon, click "Come and See" on the Podbean gadget on the right side of the screen for the audio. Or you can get both the audio and text here.

We joined family and friends. Above all, we worshiped the Resurrection of the Lord. This is above all what we celebrated.

For Marie and I it was a joyful time with our newest friends and family. It was a glorious day and we all praise God!

Thanks to the Dollar General Store in Marshall, Texas

Today the church received a donation from the Dollar General Store on HWY 80 West in Marshall, Texas.  We received gift cards, bags, and candy which will go to people in the hospital and nursing homes.  We will also be able to use the gift to provide pastoral care not only to members but others who need uplifting.

We're not ending world hunger, we're not reaching world peace, but we're reaching out to people in Marshall and if we don't start there we won't ever be ready for the rest of the world.

Thanks again to Amy and all at Dollar General!  Thank you and thanks be to God!

So, What Are You Giving This Christmas?

This is the opposite of the normal way this question is asked, but it does deserve asking, what are you giving this Christmas? One of the things Marie and I are giving this Christmas is this Christmas card.

We received this card last year from Denis and Jenny Greene and their lovely family in Kansas City. (Thanks Denis! Thanks Jenny!) As it says on the back of the card:

The "Bus Stop Nativity" (2007) was designed by St. James Youth Group Member Osa Eke. Here Christ, along with Mary and Joseph, are waiting at the bus stop at the corner of 39th and Troost Ave., just outside St. James Catholic Church. (Personal note: If you are unfamiliar with navigating KC, MO, you would not know that this isn't one of the city's "Visitor Brochure" neighborhoods. Sure, there are worse neighborhoods, but no one is going to confuse this area with the Country Club strip of Ward Parkway.)

To learn more about St. James Catholic Church and its ministries, visit http://www.stjkc.org/

The card itself was created by a youth group member and printed by the Student Press @ DeLaSalle with assists the Parish with all printing needs. In this way it is a mission arm of the Parish and helps support people who need printing and people who need to learn a skill. I imagined when I got some of these cards last year, I was helping support this part of the Parish mission.

Unfortunately the card is no longer available. But it returns us to the question, what are you giving this Christmas?

If you can make one gift, just one gift, something that helps give to others too, it is a gift that gives twice. I hope all who receive the card are as blessed as I was when we got it. I pray the kids working with the Student Press @ DeLaSalle are blessed too with what they receive from the mission.

Can we all do this at least once this Christmas season? A little can go a long, long way.

Pink Ladies

On Thursday, Marie had a doctor's appointment. To the casual observer, there's very little new in that. What was new is that it was her first doctor's appointment in Marshall, Texas. Hooray Marshall, Texas!

I let Marie out of the car at the door and parked in the lot. As I came in about five minutes later, I hear this lovely voice cry out, "Hi Pastor!" It was Martha, a Pink Lady at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Marshall.

There is something so great about hearing a friendly voice as I went into the hospital that it made my day. Thanks Martha.

It also got me thinking about Hospital Axillary. One of the traditions of hospital axillary is the pink jackets the ladies would wear at the desk and around the hospital. It sets them off from everyone else with a splash of joyful color. It makes me smile just to think about it.

It also reminds me of something else.

St. John's Hospital in Berryville, Arkansas was once an independent hospital, but for a million reasons it joined with the St. John's Healthcare System out of Springfield, Missouri. Doing so meant that it lost some of its distinctiveness, including the tradition of the pink jacket.

These days, the axillary wears blue jackets and vests, just like every other business person on the face of the earth. There is no change to the ladies, but there is a distinctive loss of the pink jacket. There is a attitude you have with a pink jacket that just doesn't make it past "business blue." It looses the distinctiveness of "Berryville" and makes it ring "St. John's Corporate." Much of the rest of the hospital has also lost its individual distinctiveness and has take on corporate sameness. More's the pity.

So hooray for Pink Ladies. Hooray for Martha! Long may your banner wave!

Working Yourself Out of Business

The First Presbyterian Church in Berryville is one of the four founding churches of the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank of the Ozarks in Berryville. The food bank distributes not only donated food, but also government commodities. They also provide a space for the Salvation Army and the State or Arkansas Office of Local Concerns. These folks provide money and services to help people over the bumps of life.

They offer classes to help people become self sufficient. They offer advice on budgets, job search, and resume writing just to name a few. They offer help with interview skills and other help for people to find jobs and better jobs. Loaves and Fishes is also the distribution point for First Presbyterian's school supply project which this year packed over $8,000.00 worth school supplies for 436 school kids grades K-8. Truly it has been my pleasure being associated with the food bank as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church.

And for the past six months as a client. In February, when we took a pay cut, we became eligible for their services.

Earlier this month, I have been called to serve the First Presbyterian Church in Marshall, Texas. With this change, We will be moving from the area and moving from needing the wonderfully gracious and generous services the food bank provides.

Today, a wonderful lady from one of the local churches who has heard of my new call came into the office and congratulated me. Then with joy in her voice she said, "So we won't see you anymore." After about a minute she said, "That came out all wrong."

I understand and I told her so. She is happy that I have received a new call. She is happy that I will not need the services she provides anymore. She is happy that prayers have been answered. I told her I knew what she meant and in the same vein we are joyful too.

This would be the greatest joy of all, that the good folks of Loaves and Fishes help people with enough food and services that they are able to find the work they need so that they no longer need the commodities. It would be the greatest joy of all that the good folks of Loaves and Fishes help people with enough job finding skills that they can move into doing more about job enhancement skills.

May they be blessed and may the people of Carroll County be so blessed that Loaves and Fishes works itself out of business, or at least into a new business. In a sin soaked world, that may not be possible, but wouldn't it be nice. Thanks to Loaves and Fishes and praise be to God.

Ironic Iconic

Today I had a fortune cookie with my breakfast (really, I did). It read: "It is a sunny day."

Well, let me tell you, there is a 50% chance of thunderstorms at my house. There is a good chance that some of those storms will have hail. I have all ready heard thunder. There's a storm cell bearing down on us from Oklahoma. The temp is 72 and 66 is the dew point. In short, the meteorologist would not call this a sunny day.

Still, I am reminded of the old Steeley Dan lyric, "When the demon is at your door, In the morning he won't be there no more, Any major dude will tell you, Any major dude will tell you."

Always darkest before the dawn. There's thunder on the horizon and it is a sunny day. I guess it's all in what you're looking at and looking for. Or maybe what you're looking at. There is good to be had. Somewhere, it is a sunny day. That is where hope lies.

Happy Mother's Day

Thanks Mom.

The Common and the Uncommon

Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com writes a story of Marine Staff Sargeant Tony Wojciechowski in this column. The two men nicknamed Wojo are not related, but the story of the Sargeant made the sportswriter think about things more important than sports. Gene Wojo writes:

I'm trying to honor a 25-year-old soldier from Union Township, Ohio, instead of writing about point shaving at the University of Toledo, or Brett Favre's latest comeback saga, or Manny Ramirez's suspension. There are lots of those stories, but only one Tony Wojo.

I'm a big fan of the absurd and the wide, wide world of sports. But somedays, it's better to think about the stories of life that are far more important than Manny on Clomid.

God bless you Tony Wojo. God bless your family and friends. God bless those who you served with. God bless those who continue to serve.

Meeting the Moderator

Last night, I was in Springfield for a town hall meeting with the Moderator of the PC(USA)'s 218th General Assembly, Bruce Reyes-Chow. It was truly an enjoyable evening.

There were two things he said that interested me.

1. The affinity groups, groups of folks who organize themselves around a specific issue, don't see him as a player so they ignore him... and he's all right with that.
2. He sees a future in the church where polity and policy discussion is taken more on an issue by issue basis than it is a "party line" basis.

When I was in high school, in the late 70's, my government teacher told us to find a political party you agreed with and work within the party because that's the way government works in America. Well, Mr. Sparks might have been right in the 70's, but this way of doing government is falling by the wayside in America...and in the PC(USA).

Bruce said that people will occasionally ask him "how can you work with those people?" The answer then becomes "I agree with them on this matter." It becomes necessary to develop relationships, not coalitions to follow and further the kingdom. Our adversary style of polity assures that the minority opinion is heard, but it seems now that affinity may be becoming a thing of the past.

Proof of that became clear by the comments of two men who were at the last General Assembly. One talked about folks who "wore the same stoles and travelled in packs" and another talked about a small group who became friends at the Assembly who did not travel in theological lockstep and remain friends working as companions in ministry.

Guess which one has travelled the highways and byways of the denomination for 30-40 years and which one was a college student. If there is hope in the chruch, it is in those who see beyond single issues and see the kingdom. It is better to see the way than the rock in the road.

Thanks Bruce, thanks to the John Calvin Presbytery, thanks to First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield. It was a great evening.

Thanks be to God for Those Who Help

Last night, after the Tennebrae Service, Marie and I went to Sonic. (Who ever thought of putting a Frito Pie in a tortilla should get the Nobel prize for gluttony!) Getting ready to leave, the XTerra would not start. Yes, the brand spanking new-used vehicle died.

Fortunately, our Sonic is next door to an auto parts store. I told the guy I had a dead battery so he handed me a charger. Well, it didn't have the juice to turn over the truck. So our car-hop came out of the restaurant and asked if I needed a jump. She said if I had cables, she could give it a go. I have cables so it was off to the races.

As she pulled up to the truck, a guy in an H-3 jumped out to help. I hooked up the dead one and he hooked up the live one and Marie turned the thing over. Hooray! Praise God! By this time, the auto parts guy was looking for his porta-battery and took it back to the store. He didn't even try to sell me a battery!

Today, it started right up, but I took it to another auto parts store in town. They charged it and checked it and it was dead. So they sold me a battery and cable grease and so on. The sales guy even helped me install it in their parking lot. That's service!Now it starts and runs like a champ.

Why did I go to another auto parts store, becuase if the sales guy didn't want my money last night, he wasn't going to get another shot, especially since his porta-battery didn't work. This is where I recomment AutoZone and not mention the other store. (No, it wasn't WalMart.)

I also want to thank the guy who jumped out of the H-3. But the biggest thanks goes to the waitress who pulled her truck around to jump mine. Yes, she did get an extra tip.

Thanks again to everyone who helped last night and this morning. Praise be to God!