My Sick Cat

We have a sick cat.

Irony at its best

Today I read about a church who disassociated itself from their presbytery because Presbyterian USA will allow homosexuals to be ordained.  The church’s pastor stated that it was because of the session’ss dedication to biblical teaching.  The pastor is a woman.

The strict biblical understanding which was used to oppose women in ministry now has excluded another group.  Of all theologians, a woman theologian should know better.

I was just wondering

Does this work?  I have asked myself this question for over a year now.  The closest answer I can come up with is: Does what work?  What works, and how do you know it?

Does Parson’s Porch work?  Well, we have helped hundreds of people since 2004 with everything from praying for their families to buying gasoline for the travelers to paying utility bills, while establishing a pastoral relationship with them.  How does it work?

All of the donations from our contributors and all of our profits from publishing turns into bread and beans.  If you don’t believe me, try it.

Give a donation at www.parsonsporch.com or buy a book at www.parsonsporchbooks.com.  You’ll find out that it works!

The Witchy Woman

I had just finished a pleasant lunch with a long time friend from seminary days at Appleby’s in Chattanooga. As we stood in the parking lot, a woman drove up in her unkempt car asking for gas so she could get to New Orleans. I told her to go to the Citgo station, and I would meet her there in about five minutes.

We met at our agreed gas station, and she was grateful that I was going to help her. I asked her if she was from New Orleans. She answered in a creole dialect, and said she was going home. Her boyfriend had beat her up, and she was leaving.

I began pumping the gas and she said, “You’re cute! Are you married?” In my mind, I was certainly flattered, but I knew this conversation was not going to go in a proper direction unless I guided it there. I responded to her statement with gratitude, and I told that I was indeed married to a beautful woman. She said she hated to hear that, but she would like to tell my wife how lucky she was to have a man like me. I said, “I hope she already knew that.” After a little more chit chat, she asked if I had any cash for some food. As she pointed to the Red Roof Inn, she said that she would be glad to pay me back for anything I could give her. The moment of decision had arrived.

Any red blooded male fantasizes about moments like this one – being proposition by a beautiful woman because she thinks you are cute. I told her that I was going to help her, but she did not have to “Pay me back.”

I finished pumping the gas. She got back into her car, and I went inside the station to pay and get some cash for her. When I returned to give her some cash, she stood and hugged me. I told her I had something to tell her. I said, “You are a beautiful woman. Don’t waste your beauty on me or anyone else who doesn’t deserve it. God loves you, and I love you, too. That’s why I helped you.”
Tears were in her eyes. I walked to my car, and she was on her way to New Orleans. It was a God Thing!

"Good" is a Good Word

The word “good” is often used without thinking about its meaning. Good is a word that needs to be used more often and with much thought before it is said.

The basic question of ethics is, “What does good mean?” A good man, a good book, a good time. What is it about something that makes it good?

When I asked my children how their day has been, or how they are doing, they often respond by saying, “Good!” That’s it. That all. That enough.

My favorite definition of good “when something or someone does what it is intended to do!” A good nap is refreshing and restful. A good chair is comfortable and supporting. A good book meets our expectations.

A good man does what God intended him to do. Creation itself received the proclamation “Good,” from God. Mankind received the proclamation “Very Good.” But what does that mean for us who want to be good.

The first question in the Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” Answer: “To love God and to enjoy Him forever!” So, when someone asks you how you are doing, and you say “good,” remember what that means – You enjoy God and you enjoy Him. That it. That’s all. That’s enough. That’s Good!

Excuses to Leave a Church

One would think that when people leave a church that it would be for a deep theological reason or a move out of the community or a life-change situation. Typically, that has not been my experience.

Once a man left the church I served because I was the only one who visited him in the hospital. Another woman left the same church because I didn’t visit her in the hospital and other church members did.

Another time a woman left the church because the church was growing. In fact, it had grown from 20 to about 60. Still another family left because the church wasn’t growing fast enough.

Recently, a woman decided to attend another church because there was not enough men in the church she attended, so she found a bigger church with more men. At the same time, a man started to attend another church because he could sell more insurance policies at another church than here.

My favorite reason happened not long ago. I quoted a friend of mine, Will Campbell, in a sermon, who said, “We are all bastards, but God loves us anyway.” Well, someone took that simple quote and accused me of calling the entire congregation bastards. She insisted on a called session meeting. When her request was denied, she left the church because the pastor was a devil!

I had no disagreement with her charges about me. She was exactly right, but God loves me anyway, and it has made all the difference.

What Makes Jesus Cry?

Do you ever just want to sit down and cry? I do. It is an emotional response that comes fairly easy for me.

The text this week for my sermon is John 11:35 which reads, “Jesus Wept.” Let’s muse about what made Jesus cry. Some say Jesus was crying because of his grief for Lazarus. That’s understandable. Grief after the death of a loved one is a time for tears. Also, Mary and Martha, Lazarus’s sisters, were there and Jesus was grieving with them.

I would like to suggest another reason: Jesus was crying because the people, his friends around him with whom he had spent most of his time, just didn’t get it! Without dismissing Jesus’ human connection to his friends in their grief, Jesus was grieved over the fact the hope he had brought did not temper their loss.

Today, I think Jesus is crying buckets! We use so much emotion and fervor on superficial things that do not last! Even death does not last! We should spend our hope and dreams on the kingdom which transcends all our griefs!

Remember: In light of God’s kingdom – all is trivial. Live accordingly.