Free Stuff

Got an email this morning from someone who lives in the neighborhood and said, "We just bought a new fake Christmas tree and was wondering if your church would have a use for the old one."

This should read, "We have an old worn-out fake Christmas tree that is in a condition that is too sorry for us to want to put it up in our house. We thought maybe you'd want to put it up in God's house instead."

Sure. Bring all your crap here and drop it off. Reminds me of the days when we used to collect cast-off clothing for the poor. People would have a garage sale and bring whatever didn't sell and throw it on our threshold. The gentleman (truly a gentle man) who came to pick the items up for the organization we collected for said something profound one day. "You know, Pastor," he said, "when I pick up in poor neighborhoods the clothes are clean, usable, folded and put into bags to make them easy to pick up. When I pick up here the clothes are dirty and worn out and usually have to be thrown away."

The poor know what the poor need and give graciously. The wealthy believe the poor should be happy with whatever is cast their direction.

Burning Sacred Books

A "Pastor" of a tiny non-denominational church in Gainesville, Florida has decided to seek the limelight by having his 50 member congregation burn copies of the Koran. Encouraging others to take part in what he calls the "International Burn a Koran Day," he is endeavoring to show that Islam is a religion of hate.

"Pastor" Jones is quoted on CNN as saying, "Ask yourself, have you really ever seen a happy Muslim?"

Let me ask the "Pastor" this: Have you ever encountered Jesus Christ? Have you read our sacred book (it's a big black book that's marked "Holy Bible"... you may have a copy somewhere)? Have you seen where Jesus says "They'll know you are my disciples by your love?" (John 13:35) Where's your love for people, especially those you disagree with? You don't know Jesus. You know you and you want all of us to know you. Your self-publicity will lead no one to Christ; but it will lead well-meaning people astray.

"Woe to those who call evil good" (Isaiah 5:20).

No good comes from a bad act. You, my friend, are quoted as calling Muslims "the devil." I think you need to spend some time looking in the mirror. I, for one, have seen the devil and he is you.

ACC

Labor Day

Here it is, the day of the year when everyone in the United States gives credit to the unionized labor that built the middle class during the last century... Yeah, right. The average citizen of this country is so stupid that they believe Labor Day is the last day of Summer (uh... that would be September 21st you dolts).

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Social? Like Socialism? Well yes, little Bobby... exactly.

The right-wing fanatics like Glenn Beck don't want you to concentrate on the positive effects that organized labor (and serious regulations) had upon this country. Without these two positive influences the America of the 20th Century would be a much different place. "Pottervilles" would dot the landscape instead of the suburbs that sprang up in the economic swell of the 1950's - a swell that occurred precisely because:

1. Most American workers were Unionized
2. Most American Industry was Regulated
3. The Wealthy were taxed within an inch of their lives.

To circumvent paying up to 90% of their income to the government in the form of taxes, the wealthy reinvested into the economy. (Every study not done by a Republican "Think Tank" comprised of wealthy corporate types concurs with this statement).

An individual has no bargaining power. In today's economy which was soured by the destruction of organized labor under the watchful gaze of the "Department of Labor" which became an extension of the aforementioned wealthy corporate types; by the deregulation of industry; by the wealthy being allowed to hoard their wealth - the individual who seeks better working conditions; better pay; better benefits - is turned out onto the street.

Only through collective bargaining - a right that is supposedly guaranteed to every citizen of this country - can a worker succeed in this market.

One last rant... the Republicans are running on a platform of creating jobs - aren't these the same assholes who allowed their corporate handlers to take American jobs oversees in order to deepen their pockets even further?

Join a Union. Support Unions. It's the only way that we can make certain that this society is not divided into two: the workers who give their lives for the benefit of the wealthy and the wealthy who believe themselves to be genetically superior to those whom they bleed to death.

ACC

Basketball Jones

Perhaps it's because I lived and ministered in an inner-city environment that basketball bothers me so much. Every kid was going to be the next LeBron James and they went nowhere that they weren't dribbling a basketball. Thwank... thwank... thwank... the sound of dozens of basketballs echoed off every wall and windowsill until everything vibrated with the jarring staccato thwank of the basketball against concrete; against asphalt; against dirt; against anything the ball could be bounced against.

And where there are basketballs there are hoops. Every parking lot in the inner city has at least one basketball hoop. Sometimes there are as many as 6 of them in a parking lot that would hold no more than 20 cars. The church parking lot had 4 of them - two immediately outside my bedroom window in the parish house. Thwank... thwank... thwank...

So here I am, 1000 miles away both literally and economically - surrounded now by expensive McMansions and townhomes instead of the projects - with 2 basketball hoops immediately outside my office window. But here's the catch... no one's playing basketball here. Wealthy suburban kids don't look to bball as their way out of poverty. These two poles stand as silent sentinals over several acres of parking lot. So when I suggested to the church council the other night that we remove them because they are eyesores it was with great surprise the vehemence of their outrage.

"No!" one businessman shouted, veritably pounding his shoe on the table in Khrushchevesque fashion, "the kids play here all the time."

"Oh, that's right," added one of our blue-haired charter members. "The kids enjoy it and so many of their fathers come with them and teach them the game."

Now, I know I'm new here... I've only been sitting in this chair looking out this window at those two basketball hoops for 10 years... but just when exactly are these good people looking at the hoops and seeing them used? Let's be honest: I'm here morning, noon, and night. I'm here Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. No one is playing basketball here. Period.

But I can't argue with the council. They were here before I got here... they'll be here after everyone else has forgotten my name - and those two damn hoops will be here forever also...

Maybe I need to start dribbling a ball around here. Perhaps if they hear enough thwank from me they'll realize they aren't hearing it anywhere else.

ACC

To The Class of 19**

Today a few of the members of my high school graduating class (the class of 19**) are meeting to share stories, drink, play golf and "reminisce" about the good times they had back at old ******* High. It's one of those huge milestone reunion years and I must admit having had a small tug at my heart about going. But that tug was a short-lived one.

I began thinking about who I am today as compared to who I was ** years ago and I realized that I've always been the same person. My values and standards are not today those of the world, nor were they then. I wasn't Mr. Popularity in High School and frankly the only people who attend reunions are those who were.

There are a few people who I would like to see at least once again in this life: That red-headed girl who I fell head-over-heels for my senior year; my friend **** who always seemed to know what I was thinking and whose mother made incredible stuffed peppers. But I know the whereabouts of most the people I cared about in high school and how their lives are - that's what's important.

So, I'm letting others worry about their hair plugs and boob jobs, dentures and liposuction. Today others are practicing the stories they're going to tell and hoping that their dirty little secrets aren't known to anyone else who's attending the reunion. And I'm going to say a funeral this morning, witness a wedding this afternoon and go to dinner with a friend tonight and do something that most of those attending the High School Reunion won't: Feel comfortable in my own skin.

God Bless them all.
ACC

"I'm Not Happy"

I had an appointment today with a middle-aged woman from my congregation. Her husband left her about 7 years ago with two kids to raise. She's doing an exceptional job, but the stress of raising two teens on her own is taking its toll. It's been a while since I've seen her and she's looking much older than her years.

I'm at a loss to explain the phenomenon of men leaving their children to be raised by other men while they go on to raise someone else's children. Like this woman who was in my office - her husband deserted her so that he could marry a divorced woman with two kids of her own. Can you say Stupid... I knew you could.

Okay, this is for the men in my audience only (you women can stop reading now if you'd like): What the hell is wrong with you guys? Grow up and stop thinking with your reproductive organ. You think someone else's ex-wife is better than the one you're making? Think again. You're not only making a mess of your family - you're going to add to your burdens by trying to raise someone else's children. Now your own children will resent you and your step-children will resent you. Yeah, good choice, dipsh**.

"I'm not happy." is the universal rant of middle-aged men. "Wah! I've given of myself and now I have nothing left to give." "My needs aren't being fulfilled."

Get over yourselves! You're not men... you're overgrown children.

Grow up. Your children need you. You made these kids - take the responsibility to raise them. No one said life would make you happy. Your job as husband and father is to make other people happy. And in giving happiness to others you'll find happiness for yourself. Or did your dad forget to tell you that?

ACC

Assorted and A Sundry Rants

Random Rants:

Genetically engineered plants are now being reported to having cross-pollinated with weeds creating what some experts are calling "unforeseen challenges" to the ecosystem. "Unforeseen" Really? Monsanto and their ilk are out there changing the genetic coding of plants (in some cases adding animal genes to the genetic code of plants) and no one, no one, thought about the bees and winds carrying pollen from their "Frankinplants" into the surrounding fields?! Holy Shit... what else are these rocket scientists not thinking about?

Alex Rodriquez hits his 600th Major League home run and this is news? It's the genetically engineered plant thing in human form. He's "modified" himself through the use of illegal substances and we applaud his effort? Smiles and nods to all those who think he "earned" these runs.

Idiots in Elected Office are turning off street lamps (see Colorado Springs), tearing up roads they cannot afford to maintain and replacing them with gravel, firing teachers / closing schools / drastically shortening the school year (see Hawaii) and we're arguing that we cannot allow the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans rise to the levels found in the halcyon days of the Clinton era? Really? We're not talking about making the obscenely rich pay the 70% they did before Saint Reagan took office... we're not talking the 90% the richest 2% paid following the 2nd World War... we're only talking taking the rate up to 38% from it's current level of 35%. Keeping the Bush-era welfare to the rich is costing the nation $70 Billion (yes, that's a "B") in revenue per year... actually $1.5 Trillion (yes, that's a "T") in the first 2 years of the cuts. So F*** the street lights, the roads, the crumbling infrastructure, the school... make certain the wealthy get their welfare funded by Chinese capitalists and F*** everyone else.

ACC

Brain Rot

I was lunching today with a lady who was gushing at how her 3-year old grandson was using her iPad to watch youtube videos. "Oh, he was so cute," she bubbled, "he would watch a few seconds of one and then move onto another."

I smiled and nodded. (Years ago someone I looked up to told me the best way to handle someone who's insane is to just smile and nod.)

Are you kidding me?! We're proud of our grandson because he can touch the icon for a video? Three years old and he's still shitting his pants, but we're proud of him because he can navigate a web page that's geared to the tykes IQ. Tell me that you've got your child potty trained at 2 and I'm impressed. Tell me that he can sit in his own filth and make the images on your iPad change... you get the smile and nod treatment.

I'm reading an interesting book entitled, "The Shallows: What the Internet is doing to our brains" by Nicholas Carr. It's a well-researched treatise into how our brains are getting softer and softer the more we are exposed to the constantly changing stream of "information" found on the internet. Our attention spans have gotten to the point that English Literature majors in college admit that they cannot read a book. Carr says that these students no longer read from left to right, up to down... they are just scanning a page looking for key words. And get this... these morons believe that what they're doing is gleaning more information than reading would have given them. Smile and nod...

In a few short generations (perhaps quicker... but hey, I'm an optimist) our children will not be able to repair the machines previous generations created. Their little boxes will no longer blink. Water will no longer flow from faucets. The hum of machinery will grind to an exhausted halt and silence will pervade. Our scions will sit quietly in their own filth, staring into the darkness and slowly starve to death. Perhaps a few plucky kids from Papua New Guinea will still be hunting and living off the land... they can carry the gene pool forward.

I'm not impressed that anyone's grandson can push buttons. Show me a 3-year old who can build a computer and I'll be very impressed. Otherwise it's just all smile and nod.

ACC

Tired of Raising Your Children For You.

What is it with children now days? I'm not a parent but I don't believe that disqualifies me from speaking about them.

Since when has it become fashionable to allow children to do whatever they want without any consequences? Since when has it become more important to develop a child's "self-esteem" than it has to develop their sense of duty to society?

I appreciate that the oft-spoken "children are meant to be seen and not heard" rule seemed unreasonable to my 5-year old brain when I was growing up in the 50's - but that's the point, isn't it? Since our frontal lobe is not fully developed until we're in our early 20's, a 5-year old (or 12-year old for that matter) won't understand - and they don't need to. They need to shut-up, sit quietly (at least while adults are talking) and stay out of trouble.

And if they get into trouble (i.e., violate any rule as established by those who are old enough to have fully developed frontal lobes) there ought to be consequences for their violations. I'm not suggesting have the little buggers be drawn and quartered, but a swift swat to the meaty part of their behind with the soft portion of the palm of the hand might be what it takes to get them to behave.

I recall the utter terror in the thought that my father would embarrass me with such a swift swat while in public. It was not fear of the swat - my father, though a large man, would not have struck at us kids in an effort to inflict either pain or injury - the fear of being embarrassed in front of family/friends/strangers - the fear of being seen as something other than a "good kid" was enough to induce panic.

Today's children know that there are no consequences. They know that any threat their Gen-X parents make will be an empty one. They know that the worst thing that will happen to them is being sent to their room which houses their computer, TV, iPod, refrigerator and microwave. Out of fear that we will damage their precious "self-esteem" we've created a generation of children who will never grow up into mature, thinking adults who can care about anyone other than themselves and their own immediate pleasure.

By treating children like little adults and saying asinine things such as, "You know, Bobby, when you throw things at Mr. Johnson you hurt his feelings." You aren't helping them grow. They don't have the mental capacity to understand and they certainly don't care what someone else feels. Of course, doing their homework for them isn't helping them learn to think anyway.

You want to help your children grow? Let them fail. Let them crash and burn on occasion so that they can learn to understand that failure stinks. Perhaps they'll try a little harder the next time. Treat them like children - tell them what to do and expect them to do so. Stop hovering over them like a fleet of anxiety-ridden helicopters - leave them to play; expect them to behave and give them fair but firm consequences when they don't. And maybe you'll help them learn that those "things" that move around them making noise are actually other people who matter as much - if not more - than they do.

If you can't do that - don't have children. The rest of us are tired of having to try to raise your children for you.

Dressed to the 3s

As difficult as this is to admit; today's wedding was actually pretty decent. Most of those who attended acted like they had been in a church before and there was not one young woman who was dressed like a street-walker.

Maybe it's just the part of the country where I live - perhaps it's happening everywhere... but, young, single women attending weddings have gotten into the habit of wearing almost nothing. I swear my grandmother wore silk scarfs with more fabric than many of these girls have on. I'm no prude - I'm a married guy and have seen everything there is to see... but some of these girls seem to be more than willing to show theirs to anyone willing to look. (Marketing 101: place the product in attractive packaging).

Back when I was a pup my mother would look at a well-dressed lady and say of her, "she's dressed to the 9s." If that was true then, than many of today's "ladies" have only managed to dress to the 3s.

ACC

Those Damn Red Curbs

Who would have thought that the bright RED curb in front of the Church wasn't meant for you to park your Porsche Cayenne? And when you found the pastor leaning against your outward display of consumption (after you had returned from wherever you'd wandered off to) you might have considered making eye contact with him and acknowledging that you were in the wrong... not making an excuse, "I'm only here to pick up my parents."

Really? You're only here to pick up your parents? Why the H weren't you inside with them? Or do you become uncomfortable when you remember that the Lord said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to get into heaven? Or that Jesus told the rich young man to sell all he had if he planned on becoming a disciple.

Having money does not give you the right to inconvenience other people. Having money does not make you better than others. Having money, according to the Lord, puts you in the position of having to care for others who are less fortunate than you... If you bothered to put your ass in a pew instead of a Porsche, you may have learned that.

Asshole.

Atheists

What is it with atheists (deliberately not capitalized). I don't care if you don't care. I don't lose sleep because you don't look at the Universe and see God working. It's your choice - period. You can stand before God at your judgment and have him say, "I don't believe in you, either."

In my years of ministry I've welcomed dozens of people into the faith. These are people who have chosen to join the Church and be baptized. In those years I've never knocked on doors, sent e-mail messages to strangers, or called people on the phone to endeavor to enlighten their puny little minds. But this is exactly what atheists do.

Today's atheists feel not just compelled, but obligated, to attempt to show Christians (Jews and Muslims fall here, too) the error of our ways through the employment of loud voices and name calling. The best form of the old atheism displayed great depth of thought. You could talk to an atheist. The worst form of the old atheism (those like Madeline Murray O'Hare) was marred by intolerance and a lack of table manners.

What I'm calling “today's atheism” is really nothing more than the triumph of the jerks. Unsubtle, unlearned (but pretentious), unreflective (but persistent). The shrill tones of today's atheism have been amplified because we live in a society that believes:

Loud wins.
Stupid and loud is even better.
Outrageously stupid and loud is best.

Again today I'm called a charlatan and a thief (anonymously as always) for leading people astray from the athiestic viewpoint. "Charlatan" would indicate that I don't believe what I preach. Let me firmly state that I truly do believe and teach what I believe. As for the title "thief" let's just leave it at this... I must be the worst thief in the history of mankind: My family lives off of the table scraps of society so that we can witness to God - who promised not earthly rewards but rather treasure in heaven.

In my best curmudgeon manner, let me answer the kind soul who felt it necessary to call me names via anonymous e-mail (whose link didn't work to respond personally), I will proudly stand before the Lord our God and point to those I've brought with me. You can stand before Satan and proudly boast of those you won for him.

ACC

Be Safe!

"Be Safe!" I don't know how many members of my congregation told me that as the left services yesterday morning.

"Be safe." What kind of holiday greeting is that? We're enjoined to have a "happy" New Year and a "merry" Christmas. Many wish each other a "blessed" Easter and a "good" Thanksgiving. But when it comes to Independence Day we recommend each other "be safe."

Of course, Independence Day is now called the "4th of July" and I'm certain that the majority of my fellow citizens no longer connect the events that led up to the American Colonies severing ties with Great Britain and the holiday which is celebrated.

Today the "4th of July" is associated with overindulgence in food and alcohol (mostly alcohol) and the desire to blow the living crap out of something. Great combination that. I don't profess to any understanding as to why blowing shit up is so damn attractive to people whose IQ may well be below the sum of the combination of their shoe size and age - but damn if it isn't.

Apparently there's enough common knowledge that the combination of alcohol and things that blow up isn't good that the Federal Government has the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) But that knowledge doesn't seem to extend to the multitude of "rocket" scientists who sent themselves and/or their children to Emergency Rooms around the country last night while having attempted to entertain themselves with inexpensive alcohol and illegal rocketry.

I'm fairly certain that most of the explosive devices I heard my neighbors exploding last night could not legally have be purchased in the state in which I live. A couple of the window-rattlers probably aren't legal in the USA at all - so these people of below average intelligence (who probably could have been as entertained by an evening of 'wrastlin' on TV or an old episode of the Jerry Springer Show) made interstate trips (perhaps international expeditions) to procure shit that explodes.

I'm certain that many of these fine citizens would call upon their "right" to do what they'd like without any knowledge of where those rights came from and the duties those rights call us to. The events that led to the Declaration of Independence stirred the souls of men of character to act - knowing that by pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor they were sacrificing their lives and fortunes for the benefit of others.

Those, who 234 years later think that the signers of the Declaration gave them the right to be stupid, would benefit from a short history lesson - if they weren't too ignorant to comprehend that from those to whom much has been given much is expected. Few in this world have been given the gift that the signers of the Declaration have given us.

Finally, God shed his Grace not just on the United States, but on all the nations of the world. We are not superior - if anything the actions of my neighbors last night touts our inferiority.

Be safe.
AFF

What is it with Israel?

I know that those who question the actions of the government of Israel are labeled as "Anti-Semites," browbeaten and blacklisted. Please know that I am "Pro-Semite" which is why I am Anti-Israel. The Israeli government has worked as hard at making the Jewish people look bad as has any other person, entity or government.

Back in 1967 the Israeli military made a preemptive strike against the United States when during the "6-Day War" the Israeli's targeted the USS Liberty, a US Navy surveillance ship sailing in international waters in the Mediterranean. Why would our "good friends" do such a thing? Simple - flying unmarked planes and attacking with unmarked ships - they hoped to draw the US into its war against Egypt by sinking the Liberty and blaming Egypt for the attack. They almost succeeded in their effort to sink the nearly unarmed Liberty in a two hour attack. Of the ship's compliment of 294, thirty-four were killed and 171 were wounded. At the time the Israeli's demanded the right to do their own investigation - no U.N. help necessary - they "learned" that their military had "mistaken" the Liberty, flying the Stars and Stripes, for an Egyptian cargo ship. "Our bad..."

Once again the Israeli military has attacked unarmed ships in international waters. This time it killed innocent men and women who were attempting to help the people of Gaza. The convoy that was attacked was on a humanitarian mission to supply food, water and medicine to the people of Gaza. One of the ships carried a former US Ambassador to the Middle East to give credence to the mission. Again Israel has demanded the right to do their own investigation into the massacre - but has already publicly declared the ships held weapons - a claim that is unsubstantiated.

What is it with Israel? Better yet, what is it with the rest of us that we don't speak out for those whom Matthew referred to as the least of Jesus' brothers and sisters?

Israel has laid siege against the people in Gaza. They are blockaded from land, air and sea. Israel's perpetual argument is that people, trucks and boats are attempting to deliver items that could be used by terrorists... like medicine and food. Concrete is not being delivered to rebuild the apartments that the Israeli's destroyed in their unlawful attack against Gaza in December of 2008 "because it could be used for terrorist activities." Oh yeah, I've lost count of the number of times terrorists have thrown concrete blocks at people.

When the Germans blockaded the Jews into the Ghettos in Warsaw it was wrong. What makes it right for Israeli to do so against the Palestinians?

When the Germans killed 100 for every person the Jews killed in self-defense it was wrong. What makes it right for the Israel to do so against the Palestinians?

When Germany rolled into Poland because they needed a little room to grow it was wrong. What makes it right for Israel to do the same thing?

It's time the world stands up against Israel and treat it like the petulant child that it is. First step: the United States should cease funding it and treat it as a terrorist country if it's going to continue to act as one. Second step: those in charge of the Israeli military machine should be charged with crimes against humanity.

I know that many "Christian" ministers are promoting the restoration of Israel to it's "historic" boarders to force the Second Coming. I will remind them that Judas the Iscariot also attempted to force God's hand... didn't work the way Judas had planned either. The Reign of Love cannot be brought about by violence.

Finally, if you laid siege on my family - preventing us from going to school, work or hospital while slowly starving us to death - I'd probably start throwing stones at you, too. Israel blames the Palestinians for "unwarranted" attacks... describe "unwarranted."

Not Another Night at Home

For a change I did not spend the night at home, but was actually invited over to someone's house for a drink and a dip in the pool. For those of you who aren't among the ordained, you can immediately go ho-hum yourselves. For me this is huge!

As I've previously posted, the clergy is as welcome as a cockroach at a formal banquet; we are treated like the idiot cousin at a family reunion - occasionally invited out of courtesy but not spoken to - so having a couple invite me over to their house is like me attending the senior prom with the homecoming queen -- absolutely a memorable evening.

I was moderately lubricated with Jose Cuervo pre-made margarita and several pounds of pita chips and hummus before I floating in the pool for an hour or so.

A great evening provided by a couple who didn't expect me to be anything other than myself. What a pleasant change from perpetually feeling stuck in the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby,"... "Father McKenzie, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there..."

To remain "anonymous" I can only say, "Thank you, X and X, for allowing me the opportunity to be nothing but me.

With Love,
ACC

Hello Goodbye

I have wanted to rid myself once and forever of the land-line telephone at the house. Let's be honest... no one ever calls me there - they either call the office or the cell phone. Looking at the monthly expense of the land-line and the DSL that I had "bundled" with it, it no longer made sense, especially when you consider that I had a broadband USB stick from Verizon for my travels and out-of-office meetings.

So I find that Verizon has an incredibly tiny broadband wifi hotspot that will handle up to 5 wifi'd netbooks, notebooks, cameras, etc and I can get it after rebates for $3 and the monthly access fee I'm already giving for the broadband.

I'm using it now - and I feel like using my best MLK Jr. voice as I say, "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I'm free at last" (or at least I will be once I contact the phone company and get them off my back).

Only drawback to the "MiFi 2200" is the instruction page (3.5 x 5") is less than instructive. If you follow the instructions to the letter you will a) load the proper software onto your computer, and b) not be able to connect to the web (even though you have wirelessly connected to the hotspot). After hours of dinking around (no the ACC does not call customer support) I found a blog where some kind guru of electronics explained his similar frustration with the device. Frankly, it made me feel pretty good to know that some tech-savvy acne-scarred post-pubescent couldn't get the thing to work either... anyway, the scoop is don't follow the instructions. Sure charge the battery, use the provided USB cable to connect it with the device where you want the software installed but then DON'T UNPLUG THE USB! Leave the damn thing plugged into the PC, go to the top of the "VZ Access Manager" and click the "tools" tab at the top of the screen followed by "Get Access" from the drop down menu. Badabing, badaboom... it was done.

Apparently no one at the manufacturer bothered to let a non-engineer try to install the software/hardware using the provided instructions. If they had they would have scratched their skinny little Asian butts and said, "Damn... that didn't work."

Oh well. Hello Verizon hotspot, goodbye phone company
ACC

Stand Up, Speak Up or Shut Up

Those who strap guns on their hips and walk into political rallies are not Christians.

Those who support the overthrow of the duly elected government are not Christians.

Those who suggest that God is calling us harm others are not Christians.

Those who believe that the parousia (Second Coming) can be hastened by taking up arms are not Christians.

Those who incite others to violence are not Christians.

Those who suggest (a la Pat Robertson) that God inflicts harm upon us because we aren't living properly are not Christians.

It's time that we who live in the faith of Jesus Christ stand up and take our beliefs back from the fringe who have taken control of our voice. As Edmund Burke wrote, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Stand up, speak up or shut up. Those are our only options.
ACC

Riddle Me This...

When did people begin to see the Church as just another provider of services? I got a call from a woman who wanted to talk with me about having her daughter's wedding here. She said, "We'll have the wedding at your church if we can use the fellowship hall for the reception."

What kind of selling point is this? We go through the trouble associated with hosting a wedding for non-member and on top of that we can have a wedding reception here to? Oh sure... what a deal.

When I told her that the fellowship hall was not available for rent she said, "Well I know plenty of Churches that make their hall available."

"Perhaps you should call one of them."
"If they can do it, you can do it, too."
"Ah, thanks for your call, but this isn't open to negotiation."

And she says... wait for it... here it comes...

"Well this is what's wrong with the Church today. No wonder people aren't going anymore."

Yep. That's it. That's what's wrong with Christianity... glad she pointed it out so succinctly.
ACC

Kickbacks

A sales rep and I met this morning - he'd called and made an appointment with me last week. In my years here I've met with every new rep this company has hired as they've made their swing through the territory. Not that I'm buying what they have to sell, but I figure if nothing else I keep up with what's out there and give them sales experience.

This guy spreads his materials out and I run him through all the objections I can think of and he came up with the best sales approach ever...

If I committed the Church's money to buying into their program I could get (his words) a nice kickback that I could use for whatever I wanted (I could even donate it back to the Church if I so desired, he told me).

Really?! I help this guy screw the Church and I can get a little of what he's taken for my own personal use? Nice.

He won't be coming back to visit me again; but makes me wonder how many of my peers have sold their soul to this 'devil'.

ACC

Ain't No Cure For The Wedding Time Blues

Friday afternoon we had a simple wedding in the Chapel. Bride was lovely. Groom was handsome. Best Man and Maid of Honor were happy. A small community of their family and friends surrounded them.

Storybook stuff until one of our elderly volunteers walked in the back of the Chapel and said in her outside voice, "Why is everyone dressed up for a wedding rehearsal?"

"Shhh," I gently hiss into my microphone, "we're celebrating a wedding."
"Oh, I thought it was a rehearsal," she shouted back.

I smiled, started to say something profound, like, "Do you Nancy take Jim to be your lawful husband?" When volunteer shouted back, "Sorry to bother you..."

Sometimes you wonder what people are thinking.
ACC