The first Sunday of the new year – good for us!
I hope all is well with you all (y’all, you guys). I am a wee bit tired this morning, as I was hope late preparing, or attempting to prepare a response to Roy – it’s almost done. The response is video and it is done, excepting for the uploading to Youtube. Tomorrow, I believe, it should be done.
We are on our way to church this morning, and as usual, we are going to stop at McDonald’s. I find that their coffee is not that bad – with ice, whip cream and espresso. We were at Monticello on Friday and had a mocha at their cafe – hot chocolate with espresso (very light espresso), but Micky D’s actually has good, somewhat good, coffee.
We buried a union man yesterday, and I was asked to say a prayer at the committal service. It turned into a bit more than that. At the grave side (he was cremeted) I was able to tell the story of the evergreens – a traditional UMWA funeral ceremony, the American Legion gave a 21 gun salute, and then I gave my prayer, which included a reading from Wisdom 3.1-4. I said a few kind words, but what could I say about a man who was ‘no a religious man’? When my time comes, I do not want to give the minister pause concerning my final destination. To be sure, I can judge no man, and would not place the departed anywhere but in the hands of God, but what assurance could I offer? What hope of immortality could I offer but that of memory and taking up the man’s work for justice?
I have a few posts that I am actually working on for the week, including one concerning the fabled antichrist. I believe, like doctrine, understanding of prophecy must be measured against Scripture. Unlike doctrine, it is something that we can wrangle over, but in the end it too must have a measure of common sense. I would like to work on a translation of Mark, finishing a long project. And of course, Tertullian and Sirach.
For most of us, Monday is the day to return to work after the holidays. I was off for two weeks, and I am not looking forward to going back. I might take it easy…going for a few hours. As we start the clock again on coal fatalities, I hope that this year is better than the last. I hate writing those reports – first it is the death of a coal miner on which I report and second, the miner is usually reduced to a number.
I hope that this week goes well for each of you and that at sometime today, you find time to pray. If you are nearby, why don’t you join one of us this morning?
To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are
going to have a special “No Excuse Sunday”.
Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say, “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.”
There will be a special section with lounge chairs who feel that our pews are too hard.
Eye drops will be available for those with tired eyes from watching T.V. late Saturday night.
We will have steel helmets for those who say ” The roof would cave in if I ever came to church.”
Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold and fans for those who say it is too hot.
Score cards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.
Relatives and friends will be in attendance for those who can’t go to church and cook dinner, too.
We will distribute “Stamp Out Stewardship” buttons for those who feel that church is always asking for money.
One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to seek God in nature.
Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who plan to be sick on Sunday.
The sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who never have seen the church without them.
We will provide hearing aids for those who can’t hear the preacher and cotton for those who say he is to loud.
by Unknown
