Gustave and Ike

I have to admit that in this case, I don't like Ike. Ike, the hurricane now in the Gulf of Mexico, that is.

Just last week, our family and many others from our entire region made hasty plans to evacuate in the face of the coming hurricane, Gustave. I spent the better part of two day boarding up the house, getting things out of the yard and into the garage, and otherwise tying down what was loose. Then there was gasoline and supplies to buy, as well as other preparations that needed to be made. Gustave just skirted our area but lowered the boom on Baton Rouge and points to the south and northwest.

It was no fun to feel the stress and uncertainty of exactly when and where the storm might strike. It was certainly no fun (and not cheap) to make an evacuation run to my son's house in the Dallas area. All along the route, traffic was heavy, gas stations were crowded, and fuel pumps often covered with a plastic bag to indicate that they were out of fuel. No vacation here.

The storm passed. We get the "all clear" word and join a convoy headed south. More stress and time. As we arrive home, exhausted, we hear another storm is brewing and possibly headed our way. Thoughts of moving to safer locale did enter my mind.

But then, another thought came. If I moved to California, I would have to contend with mudslides, wildfires, and earthquakes. Much of the middle Atlantic states this year faced tornadoes and floods. The northwest areas often deal with subzero cold temperatures and long winters. Most of these weather events give little time to prepare for their arrival.

We have been praying for the victims of Gustave and want to help, but with Ike's uncertainty that has been something on hold. Last night, our church hosted a prayer meeting for safety and protection from the storms. Now we are praying for the folks on the Texas coast who may have an unwanted arrival on their doorsteps by week's end.

You can run but you can't hide. The best thing I think you can say about hurricanes is at least there is some advance warning.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Many times I could use four arms!

Those Who Live In Glass Houses Shouldn't Put Lipstick On Pigs

Much has been made of Barack Obama's comment about putting lipstick on a pig. Some have contended that it is a veiled reference to McCain's vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin. Seen that way, his comments would be an insult.



But John McCain himself made a similar comment:



The point? I am a public speaker. At least three times a week, and often more, I address groups of people. That amounts to a whole lot of hot air. With the making of many words, there is bound to be a blooper or two. Add the element of fatigue and the stress of a presidential election, the viral effect of the internet where any potentially foolish statements made by a politician will take on a life of its own, it is a small wonder that there are not more misstatements being publicized. I'd hate to have some of my off the cuff remarks, feeble attempts at humor, or some of my pulpit bloopers make their appearance on the internet.

Many times, I've said things publicly that I wish I had not. Unlike blogging, when one is speaking, there is no chance to edit statements before the "return" button is pushed. Just a couple of weeks ago, our church held a luncheon welcoming teachers at the school across from our church back for the new school year. Being called on for a few "words of welcome" and to "say the blessin'" I did my best to make the teachers feel appreciated and loved by our church. I should have stopped there. But, no, a fleeting thought of humor entered my mind and exited my mouth. What I was attempting to do was relish aloud the opportunity to have these teachers listen to me for a change after all the years I had to listen to teachers. I had some sort of notion of now being control. I tried to state this fact with a smile and humor. Honestly, I can't recall my exact words, but instead of hoots of laughter all I got was stunned silence, and a feeling of my cheeks suddenly getting red.

So being quick on my feet, I said, "Let's ask the blessing on the food," and proceeded to do so, with high hopes that the food would remove the memory of a foolish preacher trying to make a joke that wasn't well thought out and certainly wasn't funny.

So instead of my disgust, Obama has my sympathy.

CNN Heard Me?

In my last post, I wrote about CNN's breathless promise to deliver the Democratic National Convention Live!, Unfiltered! and Gavel to Gavel! I also noted that they promptly began to break that promise by breaking in, filtering out speakers on the platform, and using their political analysts to opine in real time what the Democrats should be doing as opposed to what they were actually doing on the platform.

Apparently CNN read my blog.

I have carefully noted (to myself) for the past three days that these Live! and Unfiltered! graphics are no longer on the screen. Nothing else has changed about the broadcast except this aspect. The commentators are adding their views and not all the speakers on the platform are being heard for their full speeches.

CNN has more money and influence than I do. It can certainly do as it wishes. Just do what what you say you are going to do. Now they are.

Did CNN hear me?

CNN Is A.D.D

When i returned this evening from a night out on church visitation- on my birthday, no less!- the Democratic Convention was LIVE! on my television. A graphic on the screen proclaimed that the speeches from the floor would be Live!, Unfiltered!, and Gavel to Gavel!

"At last," I thought, "A gavel to gavel convention with just the facts." As Sen. Ted Kennedy took the platform to speak and as he spoke, CNN did just as it promised. It broadcast his speech Live! and Unfiltered! The evening was promising.


However, it didn't take long for the network to shift its focus and exercise Attention Deficit Disorder. After the senator from Massachusetts spoke, others also took the platform to make their speeches. All of a sudden, the expert commentators at CNN began to speak out and criticize the choice of speakers and the message of the convention. A couple of them complained about Jim Leach's speech. All of this was done with the commentators' sound bites drowning out the speaker.

The panel of commentators then offered their suggestions for what the Democrats should be doing on prime time television. Everybody is an expert on somebody else's business these days, it seems.

Not only that, but CNN took the liberty to cut away and show commercials and promos, something that interloped between the promised gavel to gavel bookend coverage.

So what CNN did was the exact opposite of what the graphic promised. Live? Yes. Unfiltered? No, as long as commentators "filter" what is being said on the floor. Gavel to gavel? No, as long the network breaks away for commercials.

Oh well. Two out of three ain't bad.

Singin' With The Perrys

I've hosted, attended, and watched Southern Gospel music concerts too numerous to mention. Sometimes I was thrilled, other times moved, and occasionally bored. I am now blogging, having just turned the lights off at the church after hosting the Perrys. This concert came with only about three weeks notice and only because the original host had a fire in their building.

Well, the fire was burning tonight. It's been a long time since I've hosted a concert here with the crowd clapping, standing, and raising hands like this one did. It was an outstanding concert. The program was just right and the Perrys sang their hearts out.

But what I appreciate most is their spirit. After the concert, I did an interview with them for my radio show. I asked them about being plugged into a local church and how it has benefited their ministry. They told me how they had actually moved in order to be a part of a church in the Nashville, TN area. Bass singer Tracy Stuffle and his son attend a Bible study there each Tuesday morning at 6:00 am. The Perrys have a deep commitment to the ministry of song and to the propagation of the Word. It shows- it shows in their music and in their attitude. They are not up there to thrill the audience with how high the tenor can sing or how low the bass can go. They are there to minister.

Libbi Stuffle told me how important it was for them to be grounded in the word. Some would suggest that singing gospel music got you in church several days a week. Not so, says Libbi. You've got to be grounded in God's word. I admire that attitude.

No wonder they are considered by many to be the best mixed quartet in the business. Talent they have, but commitment to ministry is their greatest asset.

Time To Run

With a nod to the Olympics, I offer this bit of wisdom:

The apostle Paul used the metaphor of athletic competition to describe the Christian life, saying in effect: "Run the race, believer, the prize is waiting." (Philippians 3:12-14)

In Hebrews, the writer encourages Christians to run the race which God has set before them. Jesus ran, even though his course included the cross (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Every day in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you'd better be running. (Media Management Newsletter)

Here's a news flash: The sun's up

Church Slogans

I'm Cuckoo For Second Baptist Church.

Enter a word for your own slogan:

Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator. Get more Second Baptist Church slogans.

They used to be a bit more popular than they are today. Church slogans. You'd see them on letterheads, the sides of church vans, in the bulletins, and on other printed material. I have not been one to get on the church slogan bandwagon. Frankly, most of them seem to me to be a bit on the cheesy side.

For example:

"Where Everybody is Somebody and Jesus is Lord."
Why is this true at this church? Is this not true EVERYWHERE? Whether you attend that church or not, you are still somebody and Jesus will always be Lord.

"Where Jesus is Lord."
See the above

"Where the Bible is believed, preached, and taught."
Ok. Is there a valid New Testament church that would actually say that it doesn't believe the Bible, preach it, or teach it?

"A Going Church for a Coming Lord."
Actually, I like this one a bit better. It has a nice balanced ring to it. However, no one has bothered to define exactly where this church is going.

"The End of Your Search for a Friendly Church."
I learned a long time ago that most people are not looking for a friendly church; they are looking for friends. In fact, I read some research material this week that suggested that churches are not perceived to be as friendly by outsiders as those inside them perceive them. But who among church members will not say that theirs is a friendly church? Besides that, I also learned a long time ago that if you have to say it yourself, it probably 'taint so.

My Favorite:
"Home Of the Crater Of Diamonds."
Most churches use some sort of spiritual, biblical, or Christological theme. This slogan was printed on the side of the church van in Murfreesboro, AR when my friend, Rick was pastor. He enjoyed pointing out that his church followed a more chamber of commerce theme over something more theological. It certainly was unique, and Rick endlessly enjoyed pointing out that he was from the "Home Of The Only Diamond Mine In North America."

In fact, a favorite memory has Rick and I in that van returning from one of our Doctor of Ministry classes in Little Rock, AR. For some reason which I now cannot recall, he was in a hurry to get home.

Hurry means speed, and speed he did.

Right down the Interstate.

Right past a prominent deacon in the church who was also returning home from Little Rock in his car.

I have often wondered what this deacon must have thought as he watched his pastor and a fellow pastor, in church van, speeding down the highway.

Fortunately, I'm told, the subject never came up.

It reminds me of a slogan I used to see on bumper stickers many years ago: "Speed on, brother....."

I'll leave the rest to your memories.