There are 3 churches on the same side of the street. The first one I didn't even see until after I was driving home from church, the second one was full of people and the 3rd - well there were maybe 5 cars in the parking lot. I was 15 minutes early, I figured to drive around the block. I know, scaredy cat, but really, what is the deal with a church that no-one is going to?
Well, when it comes to the things of the Lord, the human mind can be at direct conflict with what He wants you to do, regardless of what anything may appear to be. Tempted to pull into the parking lot of the big church with at least hundreds of people's worth (and therefore, be able to disappear in a sea of people), I decided that I had come to visit the other church and I was going to go regardless of what my mind was telling me.
In walking through the door, a lady with a big smile handed me a pamphlet, asked me if I had been to the church before. I thought she probably knows full well I haven't been there before if this place has as few people as it appears, but I politely responded no, I am a newcomer. Asks me to fill out a card - they all, always ask you to do that. After that, the pastor walks up. Man in his 70's. Apparently decides that I am to become a crusade of his to win over, I guess. He starts talking, we start talking back and forth. We go into the "room", I sit down and he sits down next to me. The man is an intellectual, bright, intelligent, up-to-date on current world affairs. But, he is a spiritual intellectual. The conversation ends, the service starts.
Good worship music. Offering - yes I gave even though I really can't afford it. Then the sermon. I have heard some pastors going into politics vaguely, I have never heard a pastor going into the depth of politics as it relates to Christianity and the Bible as I heard this man. It was NOT a boring "sermon", I was listening intently, to be honest. The man pays close attention to what the politicians say - and then goes back and finds many instances where they contradict themselves. Completely contradict themselves. One of the most astonishing things he came out with - that I haven't heard before and will have to check to verify - is a statment made by Obama. He stated that Obama, when speaking about his views on abortion, had stated that a woman should have the right to have an abortion even up and into the third trimester. Allegedly, Obama stated something like: I say we should just let them have the baby on the table and then throw the baby away and let it die.
Something to that effect. I don't just tend to take people's statements at blind faith and not verify them. I should have taken notes but I didn't expect the depth of the discussion that was given.
Oh, I forgot about the part where 3 ladies came in and sat down right next to me - very friendly. Apparently not having a ringer on the 4th finger identifies you as potential mating substance? I don't really know, but one of them was very good looking, I'll say that much.
I left thinking that that was time well spent. Decided to treat myself with an avocado chicken salad from a local eatery on the way home. Now? Trying to recapture the momentum I had all this morning in getting all kinds of cleaning projects done around here. I think it will resurface as soon as my food settles a bit : )
ben
3 comments:
Sounds like it was a good experience, good for you!
And an avocado chicken salad sounds yummy.
Alright, Pastor, I give, what's up?
doanli - it was great! It was yummy!
ben
Monday
I didn't sleep NEAR as well last night as I did the night before. I had an upset stomach/acid indigestion/whatever going on down there and it kept me awake for hours. Nice to finally fall asleep and then have that alarm clock banging in your ears shortly thereafter......
They were predicting in the 111's high for today, now it has gone done to a 104 high. Forecasters have never been able to successfully figure out the weather during the monsoon season because storms start up in the mountains with moist air being drawn upward, accumulating and coming down "here" and dumping it's stuff on us overnight. They just never have quite gotten it.
Which is okay by me, it can get as cool as it wants to. The rest of the week looks pathetic in terms of temps until Sunday where they're showing a high of 99 degrees.
That's also getting close to the end of August and I expect that sooner or later, it will start cooling down and the highs won't be so dreadful.
I'm following the feds with interest. One dissenter on the board is saying that it's a risky gamble to leave the rates at almost nothing. I do wonder what Greenspan has to say about all of this, regardless if he doesn't hold the position anymore.
As for today, one small delivery and that is all that's in the delivery system. Well, if nothing else comes up I am going to ask to leave early, that upset stomach kept me awake most of the night and I am totally out of it.
ben
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