Nowhere to Go and Nothing to Do

Posted on by Alan

A couple weeks back I snuck out to the Hillsborough Circle K on my motorcycle to grab lunch. Although, as seems constant with any food I really enjoy, they've since stopped carrying the cheeseburger rolls I was trekking for…those midday runs are a nice break in a work-from-home day even if all I am rewarded with is ordinary hotdogs (minus the buns, thanks to my low carb diet).

Well, rewarded with hotdogs and the beautiful surroundings our gracious Lord has provided (something you experience far more directly on two wheels and with no vehicular enclosure).

Either way, as I was getting close to my target I passed a gentleman walking the other way on the side of the road. I really can't tell you much about him (I am no Sherlock Holmes), but the way he was strolling made me think, “Here is a guy who has…”

Nowhere to go and nothing to do. Continue reading “Nowhere to Go and Nothing to Do”

A Grumpy Person’s Kryptonite

Posted on by Alan

One of the 242 people or organizations I follow on Twitter is Sylvia, a person who works in marketing at a hard rock venue down in Worcester, Massachusetts. I'm not entirely sure if I've met her…but I suspect I have. Either way, I think I started following her because the club's Twitter account suggested I should.

Now, I'm a bit of two minds about what she writes. She's very funny…but she also uses words I'd rather not see come through on my timeline. As an example of both, this was on of her tweets when a hurricane recently decided to visit our east coast:

"Thanks to Irene, I'm not the biggest heartless ***** in America right now."

That quote also reveals her Twitter persona…a hard woman with little patience for stupidity. Not the kind you would expect to spend a ton of time painting her toenails, if you know what I mean. But, with lines like these I think you can understand why I deal with the risk of ingesting profanity:

Continue reading “A Grumpy Person’s Kryptonite”

Cherry Trees

Posted on by Alan

A VISION for Our Church

Over a month ago I shared my VISION for the Antrim Church of Christ, followed a week later by a sermon on the "V" in VISION…which stood for "value"…as in, "My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will only get our values from the Bible and that we will value heavenly things more than earthly ones."

I also promised that we'd go through the rest of the letters in VISION one per month…and this month it means we are on the letter I…as in, "My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will always have integrity."

What is Integrity?

When you think of integrity, who comes to mind?

Somebody at work? Somebody from church? Somebody from history?

For me, it's George Washington. Not because I have any proof that our first president had more integrity than anyone else…but because of a story involving him and a cherry tree…one that didn't work out so well for the tree…but did show that young George Washington had integrity. Remember the punch-line?

"I cannot tell a lie, I chopped down the cherry tree."

I'm sure those aren't the exact words…but when confronted with a situation where telling the truth likely meant punishment, Washington's integrity…at least during childhood…meant he had to tell the truth.

Continue reading “Cherry Trees”

Somebody Misses You

Posted on by Alan

This article was written for the next edition of the local Antrim, New Hampshire paper, The Limrik.

Although the pews have a habit of filling up just before church starts, summer activities definitely have meant it's less crowded during the Sunday services here at the Antrim Church of Christ. Luckily, e-mail, Facebook, and various other social media outlets mean that even though one family might be visiting Alaska, another member vacationing in Puerto Rico, and others camping in the great outdoors…the distance is only physical.

But, I think everyone who wouldn't be labeled "antisocial" agrees that nothing beats seeing somebody in person. We can try to enter the cyber-universe and escape reality, but reality is that whether God or evolution produced humans we are part of the physical cosmos, not just a bunch of zeros and ones instructing a CPU how to behave. Ask yourself, do you prefer an e-mail or a letter? A book you hold in your hands or one you read on the computer? Someone who posts "I'll pray for you" in your Google+ stream or a friend who sits down and petitions the Lord with you? Continue reading “Somebody Misses You”

Verboten at 30,000 Feet

Posted on by Alan

Famous Last Words

When someone is going to leave for a very long time…especially when that "long time" is death itself…we have a habit of putting great weight on their last words.

  • With some, perhaps it is an attempt at reconciliation before there is no more chance to right the wrong.
  • With others, perhaps it is an opportunity to impart some comfort before the guaranteed pain of separation.
  • Or maybe it's just one more occasion to let those you are leaving behind know just how much you love them.
  • Sometimes…however…it is the opportune time to share your last wishes…what you want those beholden to you to do after you go away…a dying man's request of sorts…

Great Commission

From Acts we know that Jesus spent 40 days appearing to his disciples "and speaking about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). We are going to look at His final words as recorded by Matthew. They may not be part of what He said just prior to his ascension, but they definitely seem like they might…and, regardless, the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to include them as the very end of his Gospel—which implies significance. Let's take a look at Matthew 28:16-20 together:

Continue reading “Verboten at 30,000 Feet”

When the Lights Go Down on the City

Posted on by Alan

This week I had the opportunity to spend a couple days in downtown San Francisco. It’s not that I’ve never been to that city before—I’ve just never had an interest in walking its streets. So, my visits have always been limited to quick stops at its airport or meeting with the San Francisco Giants (a long-term client of the company I used to work for).

Why didn’t I have any desire to experience what San Francisco had to offer? With it’s convenient BART train system I could have easily spent many nights in it while visiting Concord, California (where that same company used to have an office)…and I had an employee who would do just that. He felt the tug of the "city by the bay," whereas I always wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible. Continue reading “When the Lights Go Down on the City”

Celestial Potluck

Posted on by Alan

Terrestrial Potluck

Now…we were supposed to have a potluck at Gregg Lake today, but it we are delaying it because quite a few of us are spread all over the country…and beyond. For instance, Tracy, John, and their family are Alaska-way…Winslow is with his wife in Puerto Rico…and I'd have to leave the cook-out early because I have to catch a flight to San Francisco about 4PM this afternoon.

However, since I had already settled on preaching about potlucks…you are stuck with the subject. 🙂

Good news is that I also intended to keep it short so we could get to Gregg Lake early…

You keep the subject and the timing! 🙂

Favorite Potluck Food

When you think of potlucks, do you mentally lick your chops? I've been to some pretty good ones…and some not-so-good ones. For a while we attended a Chinese church in Sydney…

No, we don't speak a Chinese dialect…they always translated the sermon into whichever language the speaker didn't preach in…

But after every service that had an awesome potluck…something else you can confirm with my wife!

You would think they were Italian, however, in that they were like an Italian mother who is always trying to get you to eat more. Mikey wasn't old enough for him to be likely remember how great it was…but I bet you Michelle is mentally saying, "Mmmm" with me as I talk about this.

How about you? Have you experienced good and bad potlucks? What is your favorite potluck food?

Continue reading “Celestial Potluck”

The Gospel According to the 2006 Harley Sportster Manual

Posted on by Alan

Owners Manuals

With weather like we’ve had the past week, a motorcycle-based sermon seems apropos, doesn’t it? Since I am one who plans for the worst and prefers to keep his skin on his arms and legs, I wear a coat and jeans whenever I ride (along with a helmet). This means that temps in the 90s aren’t actually very comfortable on a motorcycle, although they are bearable as long as you aren’t stuck at a light or in traffic.

My ride is a Harley, and in my hand I have its Sportster® Models 2006 Harley-Davidson Owner’s Manual.

How many here actually read the manuals that come with things like cameras, cell phones, or, in this case, a motorcycle? Even if you play with it first…do you take the time to read about you new toy’s features?

I do. If you don’t believe me, ask my beautiful wife. 🙂

Continue reading “The Gospel According to the 2006 Harley Sportster Manual”

A Faith of Equal Standing

Posted on by Alan

Clubs

Anyone here a member of a club or other special organization?

Maybe a service club like the Lions or the Kiwanis or the Rotary?

Or one where your age, plus yearly dues, gets you in…like the AARP?

Or perhaps because of a hobby or a cause or a passion…like the NRA or PETA?

Or maybe one that you are implicitly a member of because of an experience or accomplishment in your life…like an Olympic athlete…especially one that has received a gold medal? Or a veteran? A veteran with purple heart?

Harley Davidson

Sometimes just buying something makes you a member of a "club." The week before last I purchased a 2006 Harley Sportster Classic because having one vehicle was becoming problematic…and although he may not have specifically used the word club…John at RC Cycles in Hillsborough told me that I'd entered a new world.

Now, I told Michelle as part of becoming a Harley owner that meant I needed either to grow a beard, shave my head, or get a tattoo…which one did she want?

Sadly, instead of choosing one of those options she suggested a fourth one…selling the Sportster. 🙂

Continue reading “A Faith of Equal Standing”

Who Knows?

Posted on by Alan

"Whatever."

How many people have heard that word as a declaration of exasperation? Now, change the punctuation…

"Whatever!"

And the exasperation graduates to anger. Go one step further and put it in the mouth of a teenager…and a parent might best translate it as a two word obscene utterance (where the kid can get the same effect without the same punishment).

Often one or two words can communicate an amazing amount—and I'm not speaking of curse words. Ordinary words. Simple statements or questions.

One biblical case that especially intrigues me is "Who knows?"

The first time I remember noticing it was while preparing a sermon on what the questions in the book of Jonah tell us about God. In that case our reluctant (rebellious) prophet finally told the Ninevites what was in store for them. Then… Continue reading “Who Knows?”

“I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”

Posted on by Alan

VISION

Last week I shared my VISION for the Antrim Church of Christ..and this week we’ll be looking at the “V”. Before that, let’s quickly review the entire V-I-S-I-O-N acronym…or introduce it to anyone who wasn’t here:

  • V — Values — My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will only get our values from the Bible and that we will value heavenly things more than earthly ones.
  • I — Integrity — My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will always have integrity.
  • S — Seriousness — My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will take our calling seriously.
  • I — Intimacy — My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will have greater intimacy.
  • O — One — My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will be one.
  • N — Nucleus — My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that Jesus will be our nucleus.

Everyone seemed to agree on that VISION last week…how about now? Do you see those as a good (and firm) foundation for our church going forward?

Values

Heading back to the “V”…

My vision for the Antrim Church of Christ is that we will only get our values from the Bible and that we will value heavenly things more than earthly ones.

Where do you get your values?

Continue reading ““I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.””

Thank You King James

Posted on by Alan

Considering the news that came from Florida this week (and the horrendous incident and court case behind it) I was surprised to see a commentary titled "Casey Anthony: The System Worked." Alan Dershowitz makes some legitimate (albeit uncomfortable) points, but that's not what stood out in the piece. Instead, it was how Dershowitz explained why "for thousands of years, Western society has insisted that it is better for 10 guilty defendants to go free than for one innocent defendant to be wrongly convicted."1 He continues: Continue reading “Thank You King James”

A VISION for Our Church

Posted on by Alan

Chapel Hill

Last week at 6PM on Saturday, not long after I finished preparing for the sermon, a tweet came through from Chapel Hill in Douglasville, Georgia saying, "Our Worship Experience begins now! Join us online" (and giving regular and mobile web addresses to do so).

I was in the middle of something that would have me on the computer for a bit, so I figured, "Why not?"…clicked on the URL…adjusted windows so I could watch the service on the side…and got back to whatever had me chained to my Mac (while at the same time trying to keep an eye on a chat room filled with others who were watching the service too).

I can't remember a ton of the sermon…I was busy with something else…and the nature of the talk meant much of it was specific to the local congregation, but it was basically Pastor Dave Divine speaking of his vision for Chapel Hill—everything from a focus on people to tearing down a structure to make way for something else.

Pastor Dave Divine's Vision for his church.

Treading Water

And without a vision things can become pretty stagnate, can't they? When you don't have goals ahead of you you have no reason to even get out of bed…and you don't have anything to measure success…or failure…against.

Instead of swimming across a sea of potential you stay near the shore just treading water.

Continue reading “A VISION for Our Church”

Abracadabra, You’re a Fish!

Posted on by Alan

Does anyone else remember, as a child, role-playing as wizards or witches and turning each other into a frog or a cat or…? It was all fun and games until someone chose the wrong animal. "I am not a chicken!!!" "Yes you are!"

Remembering those humorous amusements (even when they went awry) brings a smile to my face. The reason this youthful activity came to mind is because I was perusing United Airline's Hemispheres magazine on the way to Nashville this week. It included an article titled "The Lizard King" about George Cera, who is paid by Boca Grande, Florida to rid them of as many spiny-tailed black iguanas as he can at $20 per head. If you are a PETA member, that might sound like an evil job, but those omnivorous lizards are an invasive species that (until Cera's intervention) were reeking havoc on native plants and animals. Continue reading “Abracadabra, You’re a Fish!”

“Because I said so.” “Really?!”

Posted on by Alan

Mmm…good

Yesterday we had our monthly men’s breakfast and meeting…and…thanks to Rick…the food was especially yummy. One of the advantages to my low-carb diet is that it is an excuse to be carnivorous, and within his multiple options were breakfast sausage patties and an omelet-like concoction that included spicy italian sausage.

Have I ever mentioned that sausage is one of my favorite foods when I’m not maintaining my vegetarian vows? 🙂

Breakfast wrapped up and Rick, Scott, Jim, Gerry, Warren, Winslow, and I got around to the “business of the church” and…near the end…Winslow asked if we should be having more sermons about fellowship and family…a theme we had decided to focus on this year.

This sermon is a yes. 🙂

Top Ten Reasons to Attend Church

Having grown up with David Letterman (does anyone remember when he had a short-lived daytime show?)…a top ten list seems a viable approach for an approach…so today’s talk is:

“Top Ten Reasons to Attend Church”

You may have noted that’s not the title in the bulletin, but I think you’ll understand its connection shortly.

Continue reading ““Because I said so.” “Really?!””