I learn from my mistakes, and my mistakes get better all the time!

church in the morning, wasted rest of the day, bad headache, relaxed and watched football, feeling better now, thanks for asking.

are you still here?

Sorry, it's been a while. I've been outside with real people. Scary, huh?

Kevin Ayers has a new album out. It's big fun, I'll be listening to it over a nice bottle of wine when I have a few moments of my own this weekend.

Busy, busy busy.

Have a nice breakfast.

with a federal grant I can make it a lot more silly

My ministry career began with the denomination known as Calvary Chapel. I know, I was a nut, but I was young and impressionable and have grown much since then.

Lately, there has been much controversy surrounding these churches, both in my general area and around the world. Accusations of in-fighting, embezzlement, child abuse, womanizing, and general manipulation have reached epidemic levels. That's only counting circumstances that have come to light. Apparently, many more are swept under the rug.

In fact, in our general area alone this has been the norm for decades. Pastors have been kicked out to make room for those who are "better connected" to the hierarchy. The guy who was looked upon as the "authority" in NY State for the longest time was recently usurped by his son, who had earlier expressed no desire to pursue the ministry whatsoever. Several churches have left the organization in the past few months due to one pastor being found in sexual impropriety, for which he suffered no repercussions. This pastor has turned his church into a family business, with his wife and children on the pay roll, and others forced out to make way for them.

Business and church do not mix well, especially when the church is manipulative and abusive like at Calvary Chapels. They use methods of extortion to build up their treasury, and then cast people aside when they are done using them. Fear of punishment and promise of heavenly reward string people along and keep them obedient, while the leadership engage in lavish and sensual lifestyles. It is the worst form of hypocrisy, as it also causes others' lives to be destroyed.

Be skeptical of the church to which you belong. Calvary Chapel doesn't have the market cornered on this sort of behavior. It is everywhere. Does your church make financial requirements on you, tied directly to your standing in the organization and claims of your eternal condition? Flee.

Calvary Chapel used to be a small group of people meeting in a home talking about things that were important to them. Granted, these things were rather silly, but not so dangerous as those things which seem important to them now, such as pride, greed, and lust. Find people who share your interests and beliefs, and get together over coffee and hang out. That's what the church used to be. That's what we are trying to turn it back into.

By the way, if you're interested, Sunday mornings at 10 AM, Bruegger's Bagels, 1400 Mt Hope Ave, Rochester, NY.

Cheers.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

I did a lot of routine stuff today, catching up so I can get back to work on my book.

Spent an evening with cigar and scotch whisky in the back yard. Read a bit of Tillich. If he wasn't so preoccupied with theism, he would have really broke some ground. As it is, his work is interesting, although a bit circular.

It's amazing how our preconceived notions can keep us trapped, when our being cries out for expansion.

Perhaps I have had one too many whiskies.

The more personal our effort, the less control we truly have over it. I do what I like to do, so I am limited by my prejudices. This is not such a bad thing.

Happy tomorrow.

Jack

I am constant as the northern star. However, I lack direction.

Today I stayed in bed. After I have a few bourbons, I shall go back to bed.

I am nothing if not persistent.

Stay tuned for more profundity.

You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!

Sorry this is late. I know, it won't last long, soon I'll be posting once a week, or a couple times a month. I do want to keep the daily thing going as long as possible.

Yesterday morning Lorraine and I headed out to our gun club, and spent a few hours catching up with friends. This club is one of my favorite places. The people there are genuine, and the atmosphere is welcoming.

We headed out to do some grocery shopping around 1 PM, then made it back home for a late lunch. There was a bit of preparation left to do for our Sunday evening service, so I sat in the backyard and went over my ideas.

Church was good. The topic of discussion was the "miracle" at the wedding at Cana in John chapter 2. We address the writing from the point of view of the Jewish identity and the practical application of the lesson for contemporary life. Then we had a pizza and wine. After Labor Day we will have church on Sunday morning again. I'm sort of mixed in my feelings about that, but I'm sure eventually I'll appreciate a reason to get out of bed.

Throughout the weekend I was strung along by a couple who expressed a desire to get married. I got an email from them early last week, and they came to my home on Friday where we discussed the options available to them. At first they decided on a Saturday wedding by Niagara Falls. On Friday night I got a call from them. It seems the bride's father couldn't get away from work, so they wanted to postpone. Then they called again Saturday evening. Could I accommodate them at the beach on Lake Ontario Sunday morning? Sure, I said, just give me a call. Well Sunday came and went, no call. I tried phoning them, and got the voice mail. It makes no difference to me if they changed their mind. At least let me know.

Until next time, set your dwarf on oscillate.

Jack

I will not buy this tobacconist, it is scratched.

Spent a good portion of the day rurally today. Had a wedding in Caledonia, then one in Byron. Stuck around for a cocktail, then headed home. Then my wife Lorraine and I went for wings. Yeah, we're living on the edge today!

Lately, the weddings I have been officiating over have been "hit and run" types, and I feel that staying for dinner afterwards may be hard on the families. I hardly ever know anyone there except for the bride and groom, and most of the time people are either trying very hard to be polite, or going out of their way to be rotten.

Last week Lorraine and I stayed for dinner because it was held at a location we both love, and we got along well with the bride and groom's immediate family. There was a woman there who had been at my story time presentations at the Mumford library. I feel old.

After dinner I had a cigar and was subjected to the third degree by some guy who wanted to show how intellectual he was. It was good for a few laughs, although Lorraine wanted to belt the blowhard. I worked the guy into a corner and then mercifully let him go with a shred of dignity. Then I finished my cigar on the rooftop patio.

The conversation reminded me of an old aphorism a lawyer one shared with me:

When the law is on your side, pound the law.

When the facts are on your side, pound the facts.

When neither are on your side, pound the table.

This poor sap didn't even have a table handy.

Until next time, the door is a jar.

Jack