Global Church not for me

A friend says she likes her new church because the minister is "globally aware." I listened to one of his sermons online. With something close to evangelistic fervor, it was all about saving the environment.

Thank God I didn't enter the ministry

From time to time I'll ruminate and cogitate about why it might have been a terrible mistake if I had listened to clergy who said I should join the club. These thoughts are not in order of importance, but simply as they come to mind.
Number 1: I might have been a pretty good preacher but a lousy pastor, poor at ministering to the congregation's needs. It takes a lot of genuine, unconditional love of people to be a good shepherd to a flock of church goers. I don't have it. That job would put me in the nut ward.

"Thank God for Jesus"

Those words were spoken by the friendly greeter who welcomed me to the local Meijer store. I was not quick enough to come up with a response beyond a simple thank you, but I now have one for the next time I see him. "And thank God for a country where you are free to say that." I hope some professional liberal, demanding equal time for other world religions, does not complain to Meijer management. The company was founded by Hendrik Meijer, a name about as Dutch as you can get. Such complaints might not get far here in very Dutch West Michigan, home of the Reformed and Christian Reformed Churches, Hope College and Calvin College. I would use the same response if the greeter thanked God for Buddha or Allah. Thank God for the freedom to say it. Does that make me a professional liberal?

Religious as Hell

I have not joined the "spiritual but not religious" group. I am as religious as hell and not about to apologize for it. I do not believe organized religion is the root of all evil and the cause of everything bad that has happened in the world.

Prayin' and Preachin'

Prayin' and Preachin'
Too many preachers don't know the difference between prayin' and preachin'. I guess it's normal for a preacher not to be able to to keep from sermonizing when he gets a chance.

Crisis of Faith

It just hit me that here I am, within 5 or 10 years of the end of life and I have yet to experience a good old crisis of faith. Oh, my religious/spiritual notions have changed over the years. I now laugh at some of the things I thought I believed or thought I should believe. But there was no drama. No big crisis. I made just one denominational change and that was no big, family busting thing. Not like I quit Christianity and became a Hindu or something. I wonder if I should put a crisis of faith on my to-do list. Maybe that would put some sparkle and pizzaz in my otherwise dull life.

Crazy For God

Just finished reading Frank Schaeffer's book. Fascinating. It would be interesting to get a local discussion group going. I'm not sure I want to get into an online group. There's something about the anonymity of the internet that makes people write things they would never dare say in person. I suppose those who believe all conservative Christians are dangerous nutcases love the book, while Schaffer's former evangelical associates believe the devil has got hold of him. I accept neither of those positions.