the church geek

Our flower garden is proving to be a great source of inspiration for the photo of the day!

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They just don’t make barber shops like they used to.

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Here’s a young cone flower from a different angle.

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I had a very hard time deciding which one would be the “official” photo of the day. The Daylily with the bug - I didn’t know was there - won out. But I’m posting the other of the purple cone flowers here for your enjoyment also.

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This is the third sermon in a summer sermon series on the Apostle’s Creed. It deals with the phrase “I believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord.” Here are links to Sermons #1 and #2.

The year is 304 AD. The last great persecution of the early Christian Church is in full swing. In a few short years Emperor Constantine would ascend to power making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. In the mean time, the Emperor Diocletian orders all Christians - under the pain of death - to give up their holy scriptures to be burned in flames of fire. The persecution proceeds with fierce intensity throughout Northern Africa and it spreads throughout the Empire.

Some Christians under pressure consent and give in. They betray their faith as well as their Lord. In later years, when Christianity becomes the established religion of the Empire the fate of these who betrayed the church becomes a great source of controversy.

Many other Christians withstand their ground and swear their allegiance to Jesus as Lord even though the Emperor claims to be the only who can be worshipped and the power of the Roman Empire is absolute.

In this time of persecution, Thelica is one of many Christians captured in a raid on a house where church services are held. First he is severely tortured and then he is brought before a judge who urges him saying, “You are to obey the decrees of the emperors and the caeasers.”

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Taken on a slight detour on my way home this evening.

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What’s going on in Darfur doesn’t really seem to be on most folk’s radar screens. Thankfully Google and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hope to change that by teaming up to raise our consciousness.

Check out the Genocide Prevention Mapping Initiative for a harrowing look at what’s really happening in Darfur. This is the first effort in the creation of an interactive “global crisis map.”

I was made aware of this by way of the July issue of Sojourners Magazine.

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Folks have been asking for a photo of the new addition to our deck, so here it is. Now the plastic deck furniture looks pathetic…one thing leads to another!

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Well, I’ve been tagged by Mark Smith to tell you the “5 Things I Dig About Jesus.” So here it goes:

1.) Jesus is “Immanuel” or “God with Us.” Therefore, I know that no matter what happens to me in this life, Jesus is right there with me because he too shared my lot.

2.) Jesus taught us that the essence of the spiritual life is to “love God and to love others.” That teaching roots my spiritual life in the realities of this world and not just in the heavenly realm.

3.) Jesus enjoyed a good time, a good party, and sharing with people. One of my favorite parables is the extravagance of the wedding at Cana. Jesus often refers to the Kingdom of God as a party.

4.) Jesus spoke in language that most common ordinary folks could understand, something I could stand to work at a little more in my own preaching!

5.) Jesus is not dead, but rose from the grave to bring us new life!

So I guess it’s my turn to tag five folks who I hope will play along:
Dave Winner
Makeesha Fisher
Kairos
Dave Pepper
Brother Tom

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There’s a group of scientists sitting around a table. They’re trying to decide which one of them is going to go tell God they don’t need him anymore. One brave soul volunteers to do the dirty job. He finds God and says, “God, you know, a bunch of us have been thinking and I’ve come to tell you: We really don’t need you anymore. I mean, we’ve been coming up with great theories and ideas. We’ve cloned sheep. We’re on the verge of cloning humans. So as you can see, we really don’t need you.”

God nods his head understandingly and says “I see. Well, no hard feelings really. But before you go, how about a little contest?” The scientist says, “Sure. What kind of contest?” God replies, “A man-making contest.” Quite sure and full of himself the scientist says: “Sure! That’ll be no problem.” Bending down, he picks up a handful of dirt and says, “Okay, God, I’m ready!” God shakes his head and responds “No, no, no … You go get your own dirt.”

I bet for most of us here this morning affirming that God is the maker of heaven and earth is a bit of a no brainer. As people of faith, we look at the world around us. We see its wonder, its beauty, its majesty. Most of us can’t help but think and attribute it to the work of the Maker. And as people of faith most of us would go even further, saying God didn’t just create the world and then leave it to its own devices. God didn’t just wind things up, walk away, and let the clock go on ticking on its own.

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We weren’t really sure what this flower was going to look like since it didn’t bloom last year when we planted it. I sure love the cream with the purple.

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Today we were freezing berries and making strawberry/blueberry jam. Yummy!

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I’ve been frustrated with my inability to keep up with my library books and their various due dates. I think in the past year or so Lori and I have paid close to $50 in late fines at the library. This fine situation is created by two facts:

1.) The books don’t have those little cards in each of their pockets anymore that were stamped with the due date. Instead, now when you check out books you get a receipt with each book listed on it and its due date. I am usually pretty good at keeping track of information but I still haven’t got a system down for keeping track of that little receipt.

2.) The computer system at the library knows when my books are due. I can go on line and check when they are due, but my library computer system has evidently not yet figured out how to send me an e-mail to notify me when they are due.

Now enters libraryelf and the problem is solved! If your library participates you can sign up for an account. Libraryelf will send you an e-mail notification whenever a due date approaches on your books. You will also get notification by e-mail when books you have on hold are available to be picked up. It’s pretty slick, and I say it’s about time!

Of course the downside is that now my library will lose me as a major source of revenue from all my overdue fines.

By the way I found this via Lifehacker. A week doesn’t go by where I don’t find something of use from the world of technology on this site.

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I find the clematis to be a very difficult flower to photograph. This is my best attempt to date.

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