Pet Peeves (Again) and Other Assorted Thoughts

 Over the years I have written on my pet peeves that have to do with doing everyday life. Grocery stores, parking lots, mini vans, various options and experiences at churches and the like. I've written on authors I like, books I've read and those on my TBR list or in many cases my TBR stack. Some things are excessive in that there are five desks located in various rooms for various purposes. There used to be more because there were desks in each of the guest bedrooms. Quickly the realization that not all love a desk came to me, so the excessive desks went to Habitat store. One of those remaining is a secretary kind of thing that I haven't used as a desk for quite some time, since our Rancho de Five days. Now we store cat toys and such so The Boys and The Trio can't get to things. I do believe that God, who is Holy and Mighty, has a sense of humor. So, below are things that bug me, but came to me as funny when we did this last Sunday at the Presbyterian Church, it didn't bug me.

• Let us stand to honor the reading of God's Word is said a lot at the beginning of a sermon yet we don't stand if he adds some verses to reinforce the point he is making. What, we don't honor God's Word then? Let's be consistent, not part of a show. Standing for the reading of God's Word has been a long standing practice in most Presbyterian churches. We participated in that tradition Sunday morning. No one had that more spiritual look on their faces, it simply was this is how we do it and have done it for nigh these many years. 
• Kyle Lake taught on prayer years ago and he was tragically taken from this earth too early due to the baptistry not being wired correctly. He said you can add to the list of taking the Lord's name in vain, besides cussing, church people over saying His Name every other word. We don't treasure, respect and hold sacred His powerful name. He also wrote about praying His Name in vain when someone from the stage wants to move from opening to offertory, pre preaching, post preaching, invitation, after invitation prayer and closing dismissal prayer. I've known people to use prayer to quiet a room, then pray one minute later. Which one was the real prayer? EM Bounds, a prayer warrior and author, calls those prayers professional prayers. We had a lot of prayers on Sunday but each one was more than moving to the next thing in the bulletin, there was a purpose not a proposal of praying cause you don't know how to handle the moment. We had responsive reading and we said scripture together. Nothing new under the sun but it was refreshing.

Like I wrote in the first paragraph these are things and yes there are more, but two is enough, have bothered me for years and years, even pre North Carolina. Just reminded with the plethora of visiting speakers at church before the interim guy came. 

I was thinking this morning about characters that would need to be in a novel based on church people. Ya gots to have all the kinds, for sure. The insecure, the gossipy,  You need a character, male or female, that knows the scripture that sizes up their practicing beliefs and productive legalism, and knows Robert's Rules of Order by heart. Procedure and Patriarchs, Pastoral Epistles and passion...light on the passion is all this saint needs to equip a meeting. See how Baptist I can be, alliteration is always welcomed for points and emphasis. This is not a well thought out character needs list but wanted to get this down so I wouldn't forget. It is more like a running character list of foibles and qualities. Over the years there have been a few works of fiction where a pastor or deacon or leader does something to almost ruin a church but then the miraculous happens, repentance and rejoicing to carry on after a setback. Being sneaky doesn't win the day. Another option in this genre is, the pastor's wife doing underhanded stuff...then repentance and rejoicing. 

*******

This morning I got up a little bit after 5:00 am. We have found that if Roy brings me coffee I will stay upstairs and not disturb his quiet time. So, Roy brought the coffee and I was mesmerized by the changing scene of the skies from my view in the front room. The prettiest formation of clouds combined with pink skies changing into grayish blue and capped off with a rolling fog that was mere minutes instead of hours like usual. I used my new Bible to read and mark verses and I also learned a few new phrases, studies and updates from X. Baxter, Mr Mo and GMoey kept me company. In fact when I opened the bedroom door this morning all six were sitting at the door. Immediately, I checked on Roy cause they usually hang out with him in the early mornings. 

  

July 4th from years gone by...twenty years ago I was in the process of preparing for a hysterectomy the next day. We usually spent the 4th at Lake Bain, the end of cousin's camp for the family. Always so much fun to be with Peggy and the extended family, related and non-related. I also didn't know if the tumor seen on the ultrasound was malignant or benign. Twenty years later I know, benign. Last year we kind of knew that Sister probably wouldn't make it. Sister was one of the siblings to The Trio, we actually brought her in first. She  didn't and we found her partially in a blanket with one paw stretched out, like she was reaching for the hand of Jesus to take her to kitty heaven. The Feral Family has two in the garage, Beanie and Coco. Fido was in there as well, but he left after breakfast. Beanie and Coco are catching up on food and rest. 

Keeping informed and staying in prayer for Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country. Scenes from along the river and water intrusions into downtowns and neighborhoods reminds me of what we saw happening from Helene here in WNC.