Satur-deja Vu

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Photo Op – I was a 16-year-old high school student when I got my first summer job in 1992. My dad spent much of his adult life working in textile mills and he knew that a department would be a adding second shift that summer. Gary Quarles is a friend of the family, his father-in-law being my church pastor at the time, and he was going to supervise that second shift. He needed to hire a full crew so the old adage about who you know certainly proved to be true. John Thornton was the owner of American Rug Crafstmen in Sugar Valley, GA. He never moved to Georgia and drove down each day from Maryville, TN. After being chosen Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992 the local newspaper came out for an interview and Thornton gave him a tour of the mill. It was my first day of my first job. Gary, who has also pastored a Baptist Church for several years now, was literally explaining the job to me. I had only been there for about 10 minutes when the owner of the company and a newspaper photographer walked up to “my” station. True story.

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iMonk Radio Podcast #95

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Ministering to students; Cornerstone 2008 coming soon; discussion of “Jesus Shaped Spirituality” and what to do with those ideas; music by Sarah Groves; discovered Internet Monk fanpage on Facebook (that page still exists but doesn’t get many posts these days); union with Christ.

Happy Monday

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Yes, you can get one free original glazed doughnut each time the hot light is on for the rest of the summer until Labor Day. I would support that business by paying for a cup of coffee to dunk that in, if it were me.

This is Happy Monday #485.

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Satur-deja Vu

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There was a short list of decisions to look for the US Supreme Court to make before the end of June. Earlier this week they decided the New York law making concealed carry permits virtually impossible to obtain was unconstitutional. This does not mean that all New Yorkers and their guests can now carry firearms. It does mean they will have to draft legislation and put a policy in place that allows the license process to be fair moving forward. Forbidding anyone to carry is a violation of 2nd amendment rights but it doesn’t throw the door open to everyone being armed in public. The decision came down just yesterday that overturns Roe v. Wade. Both sides need to consider what that decision really means. The Supreme Court has not outlawed abortion, nor can they do so. Their decision is based on an interpretation of the Constitution that does not believe abortion is a protected right for all Americans. It removes the federal government from the issue and makes abortion a state’s rights issue. About half the nation (in terms of the number of states) have laws in place that will almost immediately restrict or eliminate abortion. Those 24 states are where you would expect them to be, in the central and southern parts of the country. States like California and New York will continue to have the most liberal abortion laws in the nation, just as they have for the past 50 years. While I agree that both of these decisions are the right ones, I’ve already heard voices from both sides that exaggerate the implications. The timing is unfortunate on these issues as well, considering how divided our nation is politically at this time. When I wrote Where’s the Middle back in 2008, I was so hopeful things might get better than I couldn’t imagine how much worse they would get instead. Again, to be clear, these are decisions that I believe are right but honestly never expected the Court to make. And if you are celebrating victory please realize that it’s about to get ugly. Hunker down, because far from over the real fight is just about to start.

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iMonk Radio Podcast #94

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This episode begins with a reflection on the invitation as part of evangelism. Discussion is on the ways Michael has changed over the course of his Christian journey.

Satur-deja Vu

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Father’s Day is tomorrow. Perhaps this is a PSA for some but it’s not too late. Look at the picture. I’ve often said that Mother’s Day means taking Mom out to some place nice then on Father’s Day everyone expects him to grill out. Instead of being served a nice meal, he has to cook for everybody. I say that and most people smile and mention how right that is. Truth be told, it’s a very dad thing to do. Stereotypes exist because they are based on some element of truth to them in most instances. I do go to sleep on the couch watching TV and then claim “I was watching that” when someone changes the channel. I could wear a different tie every day for a month (even though I seldom wear one at all anymore). And talking me into cooking out on the grill is not very hard to do at all. The grill I have now was a Father’s Day gift four years ago. I can take a hint.

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iMonk Radio #93

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Speaking on blogging at Asbury; housebreaking Maisie; defining post-evangelical for his friend Clark Bunch; listening to old fashion evangelical preaching while reading NT Wright’s Surprised by Hope.

Happy Monday

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There are a lot of memes that put words in the Peanut characters’ mouths but this is from an officially licensed product. We’re in Vacation Bible School season so this is a timely reminder. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. This is Happy Monday #483.

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Satur-deja Vu

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There are 151 stops on the World Champions Trophy Tour in recognition of 151 years of Braves baseball. It was only 81 degrees in Calhoun last night, the sky was overcast with a light breeze. On Thursday 600 people turned out to see the trophy in Cartersville where they had to wait in line in the hot sun. The tour continues through the summer with stops not only in Georgia but also Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Here’s a link. Speaking of the Braves winning things… they are currently on a nine game winning streak with a 32 – 27 record. They continue their series with the Pirates today at 4:10.

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