Letter to the Editor: Wpg Sun

Thanks to some inspiration of others, our letter got published! But it only was put in the Sun even though originally we wrote it to the Free Press. I am putting it here b/c Cher said so.... (no, actually, it is here as a way to remember it). ra

"Safe use of crack in our city is utter nonsense. I have a brother in law who has worked with addicts for 18 years and he says the addiction will remain just as destructive as ever, and may even be worse as now the addict feels he can safely use without consequences. Besides that, where are the studies that prove this is helpful or even safer in the long run?   And what about the families that deal with the pain of a loved one in an addiction?  The very thing that they have fought against and cried over for years is now not only being condoned but even legitimized by their government!" 

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/10/22/letters-oct-23-2

The Ideal Pastor

A humorous but sometimes all-to-common view of the ideal pastor. Someone gave me a written copy of this one time, but I lost it... It has resurfaced -- though this one may be slightly changed from the original one that I had. However, it still makes the same point. :) ra

The ideal pastor is difficult to find. But if your church is fortunate, you may be able to secure his services. Since he is the ideal pastor, it won't cost very much - he lives by faith. Yet he can be counted upon to tithe heavily and still be able to afford a large house in which he will regularly entertain the entire congregation.

He loves the older folks of the church, visiting them regularly. Besides this, he spends all of his time with the young people. The glow on his face reveals his secret. He's spent many hours on his knees before God. However, he's always available to anyone who drops by for a friendly chat. What's a half-hour out of his schedule since he only works on Sunday anyway.

The ideal pastor loves to disciple new converts and gives full-time attention to calling on the elderly, ill, and shut-in. He has a model family, is always in the church office when you call and is busy at the hospital, just looking for a soul to comfort. He would never miss a church function, and attends every function sponsored by the ministerial association. In addition, he meets all his neighbors and civic leaders within the community and wins their hearts too.

The ideal pastor has a worldwide ministry through television, radio, tapes, and books and he travels extensively preaching the Word. He still has time, however, to listen to everyone's problems and wants to be updated on the progress of your bunions and backaches.

The ideal pastor is only 29 and has been preaching 30 years. He preaches sermons that win the hearts of the lost and inspire the minds of the mature. He produces miracles like Smith Wigglesworth, teaches faith like Kenneth Hagin, evangelizes like Billy Graham, has the eloquence of Spurgeon and the fervor of Moody. Yet he is so profoundly simple that even preschoolers are blessed. Teenagers take notes on his sermons.

The ideal pastor comprehends the complexity of church finances, has mastery of the church budget, and never talks about money. He is a strong believer in holiness and church discipline and never speaks a stern word to anyone.

The ideal pastor is easily spotted. Just look for the man dressed in the latest style suit and color coordinated outfit. He found it at the bottom of the missionary barrel, but knows how important it is to impress well-to-do newcomers with clothes that say "success" and "achievement."

The ideal pastor is tall, short, lean, and husky, with brown hair and blond hair. He has a deep, resonant voice which, because it is quietly loud, pleases everyone and is audible to the hard of hearing. He can sing, lead music, and delegates authority to everyone. Besides this, he helps each layman and does all the things other people are too busy to do. In short, he keeps the entire church and each family running smoothly.

You are probably sure by now that you don't have the ideal pastor. Take heart! You can easily re-shape your present pastor. He should listen to what you say, after all, he is God's servant.

On the other hand, if you happen to have the ideal pastor, just wait a little while and you won't. He'll be confined to a room at the hospital.

There is an alternative: love the pastor you do have and pray for him. You prayed, God answered, and now you have him - at least until he finds the ideal church full of ideal church members.

(Modified slightly from Steve Merrill's piece in The Evangelical Beacon, magazine of the Evangelical Free Church of America, copyright 1984)

[copied from http://www.tonycooke.org/free_resources/stories_illustrations/ideal_pastor.html]

Morricone: Gabriel's Oboe (The Mission) and Main Theme from Cinema Paradiso

Sons of Korah ~ Psalm 84

How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
² My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah

⁵ Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.

Sky

A strange sight

Last night, a crew of 20+ guys from the church came to empty out the sanctuary of the pulpit, the pews, the piano, the organ, the communion table, baptismal font, the recording devices - and several other items. As well, the old carpet was pulled out. The work went very quickly and smoothly b/c of the extra things that were done before, like a few people coming in to empty out all the Bibles and hymnals, and unscrewing all the pews from the floor. It is an unsual sight.... a little eery? That's why I thought I better get some pictures first thing this morning before everything goes back to normal. Good thing I did b/c the carpet guys were already in the parking lot and coming in with the rolls of new carpet as these pics were being taken!....

All the pews were numbered and put into the foyer temporarily. Yes, temporarily. Though a few people teased me that maybe we'll have church in the foyer this coming Sunday!

After the carpet is installed, everything will be moved back to their normal places. Including the people. Or will it all be done in time? Maybe there will be standing room only? Ah... we will see.

Fall-time thoughts

So, it's fall.  Summer is definitely over, and we've already had a taste of winter as a snowfall took us by surprise and whisked us off to a few days of hats and gloves and snowforts.  School has changed our schedule, prying our hands off the glorious season that allows us to live "impromptu" for a bit.  September rushed in with its school-marm rigidness, cowing us all into reluctant submission.  I'm still resisting.  Sigh.  Can't I enjoy one more lemonade on the back deck?  One more t-shirt walk?  

 Yet, fall in itself is awesome.  As the precursor to winter and all its cruel winds and temps, it tends to get a bad rap.  We regret the coming of autumn b/c it means summer is over and winter is coming.

 The fall of the year has a glory all of its own.  It seems to know it's got a bad reputation, so it strives for a beauty that rivals the prettiness of summer, the wildness of winter and the new life of spring.  As the summer-life of nature is snuffed out, it determines to make itself unforgettable.

 Our eyes are filled with colour - reds, oranges, yellows - all of the brightest hues.  Our noses are assaulted with smells - burning leaves, crisp air, rotting vegetation, wet earth.  Our taste buds revel in the signature tastes of fall - cider, pumpkin pie, applesauce, even school sandwiches.

 And our memories are triggered over and over by this arousal of our senses.  I see the Sears catalogue open on the couch as I dreamed of new outfits as a little girl.  I can hear the crunch of leaves underfoot as we took Thanksgiving hikes and returned to a warm home smelling like turkey and apple pie.  I can feel the nervousness that overtook me as I started off for my first day back at school with the Sept. wind turning my cheeks pink.  Leg warmers, jean jackets, desert boots.  The bookmobile, swimming lessons, girl's club at church.

And as we settle into the pattern, carving out the rut we'll tread for a short time, we give thanks.  Thanks that the promise is there for us that the seasons will continue until the Lord returns.  Thanks that though sometimes things feel out of control, God's plan is untouchable.  The death of winter is necessary to see the life of spring.  It's Friday.  But Sunday's comin'.  And with Sunday's arrival comes the warmth of new life and we see our risen Saviour - glorious as the vibrant reds of fall, having endured the blast of death and come out into the Spring of eternity.