Greg’s talk of inputs and outputs was starting to sound like some bad business text, but he saved it in the end. One quick comment about his discussion in the context of 3ABC is that it can be admittedly hard to turn the *output* switch on when you first come to a church. We have a fair amount of turnover in membership and new folks may find it difficult to walk in and start giving right off the block. Let me encourage you to do so anyway. You may be new, and it may not seem like there are any needy people here. Don’t be fooled. Start giving of yourself.

And with regard to Keith’s need for a sidekick, you need to write a personal ad. For example,

Athletic, intelligent MWM ISO, suitable companion for fun, laughs, etc. — be Tom to my Jerry, W. E. Coyote to my Roadrunner, etc.

OR you could just create a fictitious sidekick like they do on the Ref 21 blog. I’m thinking you might like a friend named Mr. I. M. Needy, Herr E. Tick, etc. It could be so much fun.

Our fourth distinctive is our shuffleboard in the fellowship hall. I don’t know if it’s cool or uncool. Nevertheless, I’m sure it make us distinct from other churches. (FYI, our DOBAG can resurrect the equipment for it if you’re dying to play.)

For you readers who have been wondering the origin of the “real athletes” comments, let me fill you in.  There has been ongoing, private bantering among the elders about what is a “real athlete” and specifically whether or not golfers could be considered such, hence Greg’s comment.  Well, I’ve refused to take this public.  But at the unexpected provocation of two elders, one of which I’m a bit surprised by, Monsieur Keisling, I can’t resist. 

“Whatever you think about football players, I think this is safe to say:  Golfers couldn’t…”  If you’re setting up football players as quintessential athletes then, as a golfer, I don’t want to be one.  NPR’s Morning Edition Steve Inskeep rightly asked the question in light of Michael’s Vick’s confession eclipsing the opening week of NFL season, “Is there something about the sport that encourages people to be violent off the field?”  Former NFL star and current ESPN analyst, Bill Curry, replied, “Of course there is!  Do you think we are all well-adjusted human beings because we go smash our faces into 300 lb. people for 20 years?  We’re some of the worst-adjusted people.  Football has drawn the most aggressive males, so you’re going to get the most aggressive behavior.”

That comment alone brings up a whole host of questions and issues about the nature of some sports and a Christian’s participation.  (I’ve got my shield up.)  But the principle is that athletes are to have appropriate conduct on and off the field.  As for the case of football, there seems to be at least one opinion of someone very knowledgable of the sport that football does at minimum foster inappropriate conduct off the field.

(I know there are cases of scandalous golfers, e.g. John Daly.  FYI, look who ESPN determined to be the Ultimate Sports Star.  Also, looks like Wheeler’s and Yong’s fellow Californians are taking things to a new noise level in an attempt to distract the UT’s Vols.)

One of the growing phenomenon of our culture is our love for pets. For the past two Saturdays I’ve been working in Corydon, IN, which is about a forty-five minute commute. So I’ve been able to listen to all of NPR’s Weekend Edition with Scott Simon. Two stories, one from today and one from last week, have illustrated just how much our culture has elevated the pet’s status and role in the home.

Today’s story comes from Roanoke, VA where the community is in the process of relocating a 20-30 year old pet cemetery. But before the relocation can proceed The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals interceded on behalf of the pets. This organization thought is was only fitting to contact the pets’ owners to inform them of where their pets’ “final resting place would be.” By informing the owners they are helping maintain the relational bond between owner and pet.

The second story is a little more…..Well, I’m not exactly sure how you would describe it. Entertaining, sad, unbelievable!? The state of Wisconsin is considering legislation that would set custody guidelines for pets in divorce cases. According to the report, there is a growing request from divorcing couples that the judge rule on the custody of their pet(s). If this legislation passes, the guidelines would be equal to that of child custody, e.g. weekend visitation rights, mandatory return times, etc. (There is a very comical story about a man that returned his dog to his ex-wife only after feeding it a pack of bratwurst.)

I think these stories illustrate and remind us of a sad reality in our culture: The family as we know it is continually redefined as something other than the husband/father, wife/mother, son/brother, and daughter/sister relationship. In many cases couples are choosing between having children or pets. Family vacations now consist of planning “pet-friendly activities.” All of this is another indicator that the created order is turned upside down because of sin. The family that is intended to reflect the character and relationship of the Triune God has become dysfunctional and distorted. As we continue in our Family Matters course we need to remember how God has ordered the family and how he receives glory from that ordering.

Dear Greg,

Thanks for that last post!  Just a quick question.  Is a Christian version of the Seder a little bit like putting new wine into old wineskins?  Just curious.

Playfully yours,

Aaron

Faithful readers will be pleased to know that Buckingham Palace officially announced today at 1:00 p.m. EDT that HM The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be visiting the States on an official state visit in May — and will indeed be in Louisville for Derby on 5 May. The possibility of having an approved SoF and a visit by the Queen in the space of a month — our cups truly runneth over.

Something.

Brad asked me to say something about confessions of faith and there I have said it. I do work with a collection that includes extensive holdings of Baptist history, and that fact frankly makes me reluctant to say much in this public venue. Baptists have fought over this question in the distant past and the not so distant past, so one should approach this topic with some fear and trembling. Because of all the fussing, I am very inclined only to follow historical Baptist documents - the New Hampshire first, and secondly the Abstract of Principles. Both have stood the test of time and summarize doctrines that have been important in the life of Baptists. I like what we have done in sythesizing the two into a new document with slight modifications for our situation. Remember, I’m the guy who wears bow ties that I tie myself. I live in a 111 year old house. New is generally not a good thing for me. I did look at some statements from newer churches, and I just don’t like them. In some cases, they would just do better adopting the Apostles’ or Nicean Creeds. I also don’t like leaving Baptist out of the name of the church as some of them do, but before this becomes a rant against innovation, I will sign off. Peace out.