Let us reason together

I was thinking of my statements about the multiple churches in a neighboring town and that reminded me of a story I had recently heard. A story of a group that I think are working hard to become what Christ meant for us all to be; The Three Nails Project over in Monroe City IN. Here is a family that had devastation visit their lives. Their story leads us from a couple who had wealth only to lose it all. They then heard a calling from God, to redirect their lives, dedicate themselves and serve Him.

In their own words, “We decided to change how we lived. Instead of pursuing the American dream, we began to sell off or give away all unnecessary "stuff".” And “We are beginning to recognize the awesome experience you can have when you quit living your life in pursuit of the empty American dream.”

Their calling is to reach out and help those in need. To assist those that God leads them to. Some of the mission activities they have worked in include:

• ·        Tornado relief in Joplin, MO, and Henryville, IN
• ·        Hurricane relief following Hurricane Sandy
• ·        Earthquake relief in Haiti
• ·        South Dakota Indian Reservation assistance
• ·        Plus a bunch of service projects locally

They have a web site at: http://threenailsproject.weebly.com/index.html

Just think of this, a family that sold off to support Christ, just think a Church or a community could do IF they reached out for Him!

Isaiah 1:11-14 (KJV) says “11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with ; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth : they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.”

I honestly believe that God is sick of us building great buildings, landscaping multiple acres, decorating sanctuaries in finery and hosting great fellowships for our comfort, while the world around us hurts. Our mission is NOT to make ourselves comfortable but to minister to the lost and needy.

Read on, in Isaiah, 1:17-19 we are told, “17 Learn to do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now , and let us reason together , saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient , ye shall eat the good of the land:”

Works!

Raisin Pie and Dedication

Last Sunday I was headed up to Linton to eat at Stolls. I know one of the last things I need is their “Bountiful Buffet”, but sometimes you just have to scratch an itch. And beside all that I had not had a raisin pie forever and knew I could score one there.

I took a roundabout route enjoying the day. My drive took me east over through Elnora and then back 50 to 59 and up through Sandborn. As I hit Sandborn city limits I got to thinking about my earlier post and the percentage of people here in Knox County that claim a religion.

So off on a tangent, my meal (and pie) put on hold. I knew there was more than one church in Sandborn so I began to crisscross the city streets. I found three houses of worship in Sandborn; a Baptist Church, a Christian Church and a United Methodist Church. And I must admit there did not appear to be a problem with parking at any of the three locations.

Three churches for 415 people (2010 census). Basic math then (and some liberal averaging) would tell you that if only 49.61% of the residents attend church then only 206 of the 415 go to church. Now divide that by 3 and that would place the average attendance at each of the churches at 69 people.

Or if you break it down by the denominations of the 206; 25 are Methodist, 20 are Baptist (I’m assuming they are American Baptists) and 9 are Christian. While the others drive somewhere else for service because their flavor isn’t offered in Sandborn.

Now I am not picking on Sandborn and her churches per say, rather the whole concept of what this means.

If the 206 church going, God fearing people in Sandborn joined together as one united group rather than three small splinters think of what they could accomplish!

First, ever hear of the 5% solution? It states that 95% percent of a group don’t do much and that 5% carry them. So yes, 5% 0f 206 is still only 10, but that could be 10 in one location rather than divided into three locations (3.33 per building). I’m starting to confuse myself with all the numbers. But bottom line is more manpower to do the work.

The other side of this is money. Pay for three locations, three sets of salaries, and etc. Pay for enough items like this and how many children continue to go hungry? How many seniors freeze in the winter?

Bottom line I think is we need to move past the niceties of life, roll up our shirt sleeves, forget our differences and help the lost and needy. Leave our egos at the door and do what is right.

I did get my raisin pie (Got one to go, a whole one!) and had a great meal that helped to calm my spinning mind.

1948 and a first love

I was reminiscing a little about my more formative years as a teenager last night and the year 1948 stuck out for so many reasons:

That year the Bicknell Bulldog’s Football Team won the SIAC Small Division Championship with a 6-0 record. The Bicknell Daily News filled the front page and headlines with this miracle. So of course that found all of us puffing out our chests in pride and walking with a swagger that told of our importance. I mean even if you didn’t play on the team you were from there!

If I remember his name correctly, the Principal was Mr. Herald Axe and at the time most of didn’t care a lot for him because he ruled the school firmly and without any shenanigans. In retrospect though I think he did his job well and was making sure we lived up to our potential as best he could. But that year we gave him a run for his money! After all we were the Bicknell Bulldog’s and we were invincible!

There was never a dull moment that year and in addition to the championship the year was filled with:

1)      Pranks that involved shoe polish, chickens, lard, ink and even a horse in the gymnasium.

2)      Minor fistfights with rival schools.

3)      Forgotten homework assignments

4)      Tardiness from running the back roads too late.

Great movies came out in 1948, including: The Three Musketeers (starring Lana Turner and Gene Kelly) and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (with Humphrey Bogart).

Books that changed my life hit the stands that year, especially Raintree County by Ross Lockridge, Jr.

But the other thing that stood out that year for me was the girl I met after one of the games. Cindy Schloger who was from Freelandville. I think we were in love but we never made it to that point. I guess at best we could be thought of as buddies. We ran the streets together, laughing and making a spectacle of ourselves.

I had the privilege of one kiss from her. Close to Christmas that year we had hot chocolate at a local dinner after an afternoon of homework, jokes and dreams and I was walking her home. She slipped on some ice and I caught her in my arms. Our eyes met as I pulled her up straight and we both mutually edged in for a kiss.

Oh the glory of it! The fresh washed scent of her hair, the glitter in her eyes, along with the lingering taste of chocolate on her lips. My heart stopped. Then we both seemed to realize what had happened, quickly pulled apart, adjusted ourselves and continued on to her home.

We never talked of it, though I think we both often remembered it. Cindy’s father relocated her and the family to Indianapolis that next spring as he took a better job there. I stayed in contact with her for a short while, then my life got complicated and I (sigh) lost track of her.

Preachers and Divorce

My favorite Preacher, Billy Sunday and while I never got to see him, I have always enjoyed hearing the stories of those who have and reading his sermons.

So I was standing in line at Walmart in Linton waiting to check out, listening to the two white haired ladies in front of me talking about their minister and his ex-wife. This totally floored me and immediately I thought of 1 Timothy 3 and began to question what’s wrong with this picture.

1 Timothy 3 (KJV)

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Look at the words of Paul wrote to Timothy, “…the husband of one wife…” and “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”

For years the church accused anyone who did not live up to the standards set biblically (Ever hear of being ‘churched’?). We never made allowances for people’s mistakes or for their learning a closer walk. We all come as babes into the family of God and like a child learning to feed itself or walk; we too must learn how to adapt to the life. But when it comes to a man who has dedicated his life and spent years learning the gospel and then finds himself at this great of a crossroads I would think that he would realize that he needs to step aside.

The Greek phrase here would translate as “a one woman man.”

Let’s face it divorce represents a failure in the home. And yes God can and does forgive for this. But this would disqualify a man for church leadership.

Second a marriage that ends in divorce should only prove that the man in question cannot run his house.

1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV) tells us that, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” A man of the cloth who sees his marriage end in divorce and watches his home life dissolve can no longer be an example to believers.

God’s truth is God’s truth. Don’t look the other way just because you like or feel sorry for someone. Love the person but hate the sin.

In the Old Testament we find the words of Malachi (2:14-16 KJV) 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

God hates those who do not care and nurture their wives.

God sat in place the qualifications of the Pastor, if those qualifications are not met then that man should not be a Pastor, for them to stand in the pulpit is a sin. And if a congregation decides to turn their head to the sin being committed they too are guilty of sinning.

Too many of my posts have been somber of late, I guess I need to lighten up and enjoy the countryside a little in the near future. 

Do you ever remember sleeping like this in church? I do! And the other vivid memory of church as a boy was my mother and grandmother fanning themselves (and me) with those handheld fans that had scripture on one side and a funeral parlor ad (Duesterberg / Frederick maybe?) on the other. I assume they finally air conditioned the First Baptist Church of Bicknell. I assume.

Honoring the Miners

So talking about Duke Power and their use of coal brought back some harsh memories of coal mine disasters that I can remember. I’m sure there were more but these are the ones that stick out in my mind:

1937 Baker Mine over in Sullivan. I think 20 died here. It is the earliest memory I have of a mine explosion and I remember it not because we lost family but some members of the family rushed there to help out and this of course left the women to wring their hands over their safety.

1941 Panhandle mine here in Bicknell. 14 died here after an explosion. What I remember most about this was that another group made it out by walking about two miles underground and up.

1961 Viking Mine in Terre Haute. 22 died here and while I was no longer in the area I still felt the horror of it when I reached out to home.

American Coal Mining Co. Bicknell

American Mine Bicknell

Freeman Coal Co. Bicknell

In their honor I would like to share this poem by David Ronald Bruce Pekrul:

The Coal Miner

His face is black, his cough is heavy,

He works far underground,

A breed apart, one-of-a-kind,

His type is hard to be found.

He works in the dark from nine to five,

And sees not the light of day,

And when he is done he stands in line,

Just waiting for his pay.

His wife and children are waiting at home,

They worry when he is away,

They hate that damned old coal mine,

And wonder why he wants to stay.

Then news of a cave-in spreads through town,

There's panic on everyone's faces,

The mine has been buried and so have the men,

They're gone and without any traces.

There's weeping and praying, there's cursing and more,

But everyone there pitches in,

They work through the evening and then through the day

Just looking for loved-ones and kin.

Now in the dark distance they see a small glimmer,

The light from a helmet is there,

And then in the rubble they see the coal miner,

Which causes the people to stare.

For over one shoulder he carries a miner,

And with his right hand drags another,

His life he would forfeit if they needed him,

He cares for them like they were brothers.

These days he just sits and thinks of the mine,

And tears overwhelm like a flood,

And often he wishes that he was still there,

For coal dust is still in his blood.

Sorry no Redneck picture today, just something to honor the miners…..

The Air that We Breathe

I was driving through Edwardsport the other day and was amazed by how clean and well-kept the Duke Energy power plant was and I guess I didn’t even know that much about it. So when I got home I did a little research and some of the findings shocked me!

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2005 listed the old power plant "as the second most polluting power station in the industrialized world". Ouch! I always wondered where those three lagged frogs down by 

Smothers Creek came from.

But don’t fret! Today according to Duke, “The plant is one of the world's cleanest coal-fired power generating stations” Good. Good. But did you know that regardless of the ranking, using coal had been linked to anyone of the following:

• Reduction in life expectancy
• Respiratory hospital admissions
• Black lung disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Non-fatal cancer, osteoporosis, ataxia, renal dysfunction
• Chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks
• Loss of IQ from air and water pollution
• Nervous system damage
• Degradation and soiling of buildings
• Global warming
• Ecosystem loss and degradation

All this makes me so glad I grew up and moved back home here!

The other little thing I learned which I guess don’t surprise me is that cost over runs by an estimated $1.4 billion dollars (Depending on who you ask) will eventual cost the consumers more. A lawsuit capped what could be pushed down to customers, but it was given a ‘time frame’. In addition there was a “ethical scandal.” Imagine that! Big business has ethics!

For my redneck pic today, look close and think about it

A Walk and a Talk with Spirits

I drug my butt out of bed early yesterday and accomplished a task I had been putting off for some time. The task was to visit some family at the Warth Cemetery over by Decker. I had been putting this off ever since I returned, telling myself that those people ain’t going nowhere. Deep down inside my gut I know I was just afraid of the ghosts of my past.

Surprising the visit went well! A beautiful day for a drive and a walk through the country side. Not too warm. And I must admit, the fear I held dissipated as I sat and contemplated these graves. I came away with the idea that maybe those gone on knew the real score. Maybe they just did not know how to convey the message in an understandable and sane way.

While they alienated me with their messages (Or so I thought), the truth is that it was not the message but the delivery! I have realized after all these years that God only expects from us what we can handle. And some people are capable of handling more due to the circumstances in their lives. So they felt that total perfection was the only way, while God only expects perfection to what He asks each of us as an individual.

So dear Amanda, you and those that lay there with you, I might have been a disappointment to all of you all those years ago, I now know in my heart that is no longer true.

My redneck picture of the day was titled ‘Bonus Room’