Immigration, Arizona and The Land of the Free

I know that I have sworn off of politics and political posts, but this isn't just about politics--it's about people.

When dealing with the subject of immigration, or in most cases--illegal immigration, I think that some compassion is in order. Sure, the curmudgeonly part of me wants to take a hard line stance and deport anybody that is here without a "legal" right to be here. But the humanitarian part (yes, I have a humanitarian buried deep in my personality) doesn't want to send them back to a situation that is worse for them or their families.

The fiscally conservative part doesn't want to spend a nickel of public money for their health, education or well being. While the humanitarian part (their it is again!) doesn't want to withhold necessary things from the innocents (children) that are caught in the situation as a result of adults that can't get things worked out.

I certainly realize that we need to have immigration laws and the right to enforce them. I shake my head in the irony of the strict Mexican immigration laws in regard to their southern border and the Mexican government's blind eye towards people leaving through their northern border and the criticism they have for the US policies.

I don't know if the Arizona law is the answer but I do think that the state has the right to address the issue since the federal government chooses to ignore it.

I'm not a big fan of the writings of Richard Land. I usually don't disagree with his stance, but often find his attitude and demeanor offensive. However, his article on addressing the issue of immigration was well written and deals with the compassion, understanding and grace that we (the citizens of Heaven and of the US) should have towards those that are just seeking a better way of life. Read the article, contemplate the ideas expressed, and let's see if we can't offer some help to our elected officials in addressing the issue facing our border states and effecting us all.

Love God, love your neighbor...

John

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Marking Time

It's overcast and damp in the Ozarks on this Saturday morning. My high school graduate arrived home from the all-night graduation party at the Ozarks Community Center a short time ago and headed straight to bed. I'm enjoying a cup of coffee (actually starting on my second) and reading my daily blogs before getting started on what will prove to be a busy weekend.

Some time during the coming week, I'm going to have to work on scanning a few pictures into the computer--pics of the kids when they were little. I'm having a bit of difficulty figuring out what happened to the eighteen years from when Hannah was just a baby to the day of her high school graduation or from teaching Aaron to ride a bike to officiating his wedding in a few weeks. It's not a matter of feeling old or anything like that, it's just ... has it really been that many years?

I know that they say that "time flies when you're having fun" and I know that being a dad is a blast, but ... really? Can it be that my babies are now a young man and a young woman? It just boggles my mind.

I'll work on those pics later this week, for now I've got plenty to do--too much to be spending time on the blog.

Have a great weekend!

John

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Blackberry Winter

It's been cold, damp, rainy weather in the Midwest for the past few days. I asked the question on my Facebook status: If the warm weather of late fall is "Indian Summer", what is the cold weather of late spring?

I got several responses that said it's called "Blackberry Winter" as the cold snap coincides with the blackberry blossoms of early to mid May. Sure enough, we are having a Blackberry Winter. The good news is that it is not expected to last and it really isn't all that cold. The cold air from the north and warm air from the south are making for some severe weather. Tornadoes in Oklahoma claimed several lives and caused a lot of property damage on Monday afternoon. I've written about the Springfield Plateau before. This geographic rise seems to send a lot of weather north and south of us as storm systems seem to break up as they hit the western edge of the plateau.

Oh, we still get our share of severe weather in the spring and summer but it is pretty amazing to watch the weather radar at work as many storms start to break up as they hit Missouri's western boundary. I thought that we were in for some severe weather tonight when I left work but we didn't even get any rain. There was a little thunder and lightning but not much else.

I'm hoping for a good weather day tomorrow as I make the 3 hour drive to Jefferson City, MO to meet with some other evangelists and MBC staff to talk about our ministry to the people of Missouri. I'm looking forward to sharing ideas with these guys, although I'm not really sure why I've been invited. I know that I'm the current president of the Fellowship of Missouri Baptist Evangelists, but that's just because the other guys are too busy and I wasn't quick enough (or smart enough) to say no. In any case, I love hanging out with these guys and secretly hope that some of their smarts, and some of their fire will rub off on me.

Well I need to be on the road in about six hours so I'd better call it a day and grab a little sleep. Meetings and travel tomorrow and back to work the mid-shift tomorrow night.

Try not to fret about the cold--it didn't freeze so we'll still have plenty of blackberries to enjoy this summer!

John

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World News

What happened in the world this past weekend?

As far as world news goes, I don't have a clue...and that's okay. Sometimes I like it when my world stays pretty small. I know that I could bore you with the details of what happened in my world (I won't) but, like I said--it's a pretty small world.

Small as it might be, my little world keeps me pretty busy...and I'm always surprised to find that it touches a larger world than I imagine. The internet is a part of the expanding influence that I might have on those that journey through this life with me. Facebook has re-established some old friendships and introduced me to some new friends. I belong to a small community of bloggers that enjoy reading each others rants and posts. And I am still amazed at the global exposure that my occasional posts have.

Saturday morning (May 8) was our Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers meeting. We had a wonderful young author as our guest speaker. Erin Davis is a local writer that has used her gift for writing to minister to girls and young women. Her first book, Graffiti: Learning to See the Art in Ourselves was born from the need that teen girls have in finding value in a world that devalues anything that doesn't conform to the model image given by the media. It turns out the Bible has plenty to say about the value that we have in the eyes of our Creator. (There's a big surprise!)

Erin is a wonderful speaker and I would recommend her for your women's conferences, girls youth groups or college women's groups (or writers' clubs). In speaking to our group, Erin focused more on the humility of a Christian writer and keeping a Kingdom mindset than on the things that you might expect from an author. She gave a realistic view of what being a published author is (and is not), and was also inspiring to those of us that know there is a book waiting to be written inside of us.

Once again, maybe I'll get started on putting those thoughts into written form and see where that takes me...

...maybe, it's not like I don't have anything else to do!

Some days the world seems so big--like there is just so much going on that I have no influence over. On other days, the world seems pretty small and I find that people on the other side of the globe are struggling with and rejoicing in the same things that I am in my little corner of the Earth. I'm finding that it's okay if I don't get too worked up about the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or what is going to become of Tiger Woods' golf career/marriage/wealth/blah/blah/blah/life.

Sure, they're completely different things and one will impact the environment and the economy and the other is pretty much gossip and only affects those that are a part of Tiger's world. But I've found that putting things into one of two circles helps to keep them in perspective. One circle is things that concern me, the other is things that I have influence over. If things concern me but I have no influence over them, they become non-stress things; information only kind of things (like the Cardinals dismal hitting or Shogun Rua winning the UFC belt). Some things I have some influence over but really don't care about. They are also non-stressors. Some things don't fit into either circle and can be quickly dismissed. It's only the places that the circles overlap that I have to make a decision on how I'm going to handle it--those things that concern me and I can do something that will make a difference. Obviously, I can have a greater impact on somethings than on others, but overall, this system seems to work well for me. If you are a worrier, feel free to try this out for yourself--let me know if it helps.

I hope that things are well in your world. I hope that your influence in the worlds that you touch is positive. Things in my world are grand! Thanks for visiting.

John

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Another Reason That I'd Make a Lousy Pastor...

This weekend is Mother's Day here in the USA (Australia, too!). I don't know how many other countries celebrate Mother's Day this weekend (not really important to this post) but I do wish all of you mothers a happy day. Thanks to you, Mom, and thanks to Chris who is a wonderful mom to my two kids.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day, Chris!

Now you might be looking back at the title of this post and rereading what you've already read once and wondering how Mother's Day would make me a lousy pastor.

Well, here's the deal: On Sunday morning, from pulpits across the country, preachers will be delivering messages that have to do with...well, mothers. Some will talk about mothers from the Bible, others about biblical qualities in mothers, and still others will preach messages about Mary, the mother of Jesus. And while I think that our society should certainly set aside a day to honor our moms, our purpose at church is to give honor to God and God alone.

This type of diversion from our worship of God will happen again on Memorial Day weekend, Father's Day, Fourth of July, etc., etc. Do you see what I mean about me being a lousy pastor? Pastor's have to worry about public opinion the same way that politicians do. Pastors have to cater to the congregation members that hold hostage the tithes and offerings that rightfully belong to God (but not until they surrender them). Pastors have to compromise to keep people happy. Pastors are expected to do the things that the church has always done, smile nicely, shake hands, kiss babies...did I mention that they are like politicians?

Am I wrong to think of messages that honor mothers on Mother's Day as idolatry? When preachers preach about God and Country on Memorial Day weekend instead of just God--is that okay on the day that we gather to worship God alone?

It's probably a good thing that pastors want to preach in their home churches on these special days. That means that I don't have to worry about offending any members by treating my time in the pulpit exactly the same as I do on any other Sunday.

To all of the pastors that find themselves reading this--you do what you feel the Holy Spirit is telling you to do and pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. I've never been where you are and you owe me no explanations. You are only accountable to God (and your membership!).

So be sure to honor your mother this weekend--take her out to dinner or cook for her at home. Send her a card or give her a call. But let's keep our worship of God for God alone and give him thanks for our moms.

John

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One week later...

One week later...

After blogging about wasted time, I decided that I would make an attempt at avoiding the television for the week. Other than a few hours of baseball (not considered to be wasting time) I watched two one hour shows--NCIS and Criminal Minds. For the most part, I listened to the games on the radio or worked in some time on the stationary bike during the games.

Additionally, I have been one week without a soda. This is a monumental achievement for a guy that normally drinks several 20 oz. bottles or 12 oz cans per day. I've also gone one whole week without eating out...at all. No breakfast biscuit on the way to work in the morning; no Buffalo Wild Wings or Jimmy Johns for the midshift; nothing. Okay, I did have an oatmeal raisin cookie from Starbucks...does that count?

I'm just considering how much money I spend (waste) on things like soda, fast food and eating out in general. I'm certain that the actual dollar amount would be staggering. I heard that the average family (US) spends around $5000 dollars per year eating out. As far as I can tell, we eat out more than most people that I know, although it's often fast food and seldom a "nice" restaurant. But even at a family restaurant or pizza place the dollars add up. If we kept track of that kind of thing (we don't), I'm sure that it would amaze us.

I do plan on eating at home more often. The down side to that is that I'm probably going to have to cook dinner more often...Chris doesn't necessarily share my let's not eat out so much idea! I know that it will take some time but at least summer is on the way and the grill is calling. As for the time, I'm just guessing that it takes less time to prepare, eat and clean up after a home cooked meal than it does to drive to a restaurant, wait to be waited on, order, eat, and drive home. Even a trip to Applebee's or the nearby (for us) El Charro's is a close call on time. Sure, it's more work--but that becomes a laziness issue, not a time issue. And it can be a time of working together that puts a healthier meal before us and saves the money that we would spend eating out. (By the way, budget experts say the eating out goes under entertainment, not food.)

Here is an article that puts the too busy to cook argument in it's place.

Bon appetit!

John

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Weekend Notes

It is Friday night and there is a rain delay in the Reds/Cardinals baseball game. It's been a pretty good week. I had a wonderful Sunday that started with a visit to the youth group's Sunday School class at Hopedale. It was really just a kind of question and answer time that was sort of centered around the thought of what heaven is like. They had some great questions and were really interested in what the Bible has to say and are trying to figure out just why we believe what we believe.

I left Sunday School at Hopedale to drive the few miles to Shady Grove Baptist Church and fill in for a sick pastor/friend. The fellowship of believers at Shady Grove is a friendly group of believers and I can tell that they really love their new pastor. It was fun to preach there again.

Wednesday night I was at Victory Baptist for the closing program of their AWANA program. I'm looking forward to hearing what decisions were made that night. I always have a great time when I get to go to these kind of programs.

This weekend (the first weekend of May) is our annual Community Day event at Hopedale Baptist. This is one of the biggest community events on our church calendar. We will have many inflatables games for kids, some rides, some food, some music, and some guy doing a few magic effects and telling people that God loves them and Jesus died for them. There are some great prizes that are given away to our neighbors and a hope that they realize that we are here to help them face the struggles of day to day living and to give them some answers about spiritual matters and eternal things. It looks like the rain is forecast to be through the Ozarks by Sunday and we should have a very nice day.

May will be a very full month...Camp meetings, Christian Writer's meeting to elect officers for next year, a meeting in Jefferson City to talk about evangelism in Missouri Baptist life, Hannah's Graduation and Open House, Aaron will be travelling to Scotland for an international volleyball tournament representing Team USA with Athletes International, and Chris will travel for her annual sisters weekend with the girls.

At work, a supervisor job was filled from the controller workforce and that leaves a hole in the rotation. Not a big deal to management but it will make it difficult for the rest of us to get time off and we'll begin some shifts and staffing levels that are below what management is willing to go to in order for controllers to take leave. Nothing new there...just more of the same old stuff. We do have a few guys that are well into their training--one should be fully certified by mid-summer. However, we also have another supervisor that will likely retire this summer and two controllers that will retire before the end of the year. But don't worry, we're no where near the mandatory six day weeks that many facilities are at and the FAA continues to tell the flying public that there is no shortage of air traffic controllers. On the plus side of work life, I continue to pick up a second midnight shift each week and the new staffing level may allow me to work three each week. This keeps me away from most of the garbage and helps to keep my attitude from getting too soured by the everyday junk.

If you are in the Ozark area on Sunday afternoon, stop by and visit us at Hopedale. You'll have a great time.

John

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