Please tell me if I am doing this

Be merciful and protect me from myself. On the other hand, if you are doing this, and you know who you are, I am trying to get up enough courage for a little talk.

When Christians move off the front lines

The Washington Post is doing  a series of how the wounded from the war in Irag and Afghanistan are being treated at the Walter Reed Hospital. I don’t get it. Once people given their best(and had their lives changed forever), we give our least. Contact your congressional delegation and express your outrage.

But it also makes me think of the church. Do we treat people as useful and then as useless? There are many who have given their best for so long and tried so hard. What do they get from us, particularly if they have been injured in some way in the spiritual war? Once they stop contributing, what do we do? There are a lot of people who have taken what the church does very seriously but then have been injured. Front line ministry brings wounds, you know. Do we chalk it up to moral deficiency, character failure, backslidding and then wash our hands? Or do we honor, cherish and help? I’m not sure I know how to do that. It’s easy to feel betrayed, let down, especially when their injury takes the form of criticism of the church. But a closer look tells us something more personal may be going on, and we need to take the time to care.

When people move off the front lines, they might need more than criticism!!!

Things Occurring to Me

1. I like to tip and surprise with extra large tips.  But I don’t like big jars set out for the workers to share.

2. I saw Jerry Maguire again. I really like that movie. Does liking Tom Cruise make me a bad man? He doesn’t have a lot of good press lately.

3. There’s a new Infiniti dealership on Rt 53 on my way to church. I have to drive by new FX35s every day. This is painful.

4. I like Aerosmith but Tyler screams too much.

5. I really like ballroom dancing. I watch it on TV.

6. Britney Spears doesn’t look too bad bald.  Me, on the other hand…!!!!

7. Geraldo Rivera – what a waste of talent.

8. For some reason I would like to be an expert on the philosopher Spinoza. I like his courage if not his conclusions.

9. My wife and the cocker spaniel we have are so close, I think the dog is Sharon’s soul with fur on it.

10. I love going to church. You have no idea how much.

Today’s Quote 2/20/07

Planning is attending to the goals we ought to be thinking about and never do, the facts we do not like to face, and the questions we lack the courage to ask.  James Gardner