TGIFN, Thank God it’s Friday night. Friday night is my night to debrief. Usually, I kick back, watch a little TV, and just relax. Some day it is going to be our date night and we do on rare occasion go out. Actually, we frequently plan to go out but sometime in the afternoon Cheryl offers “Why don’t we just stay in and kick back.” And we do.
Tonight we went for a power walk and did a pastoral visit. We came home and now we are watching TV. I can’t handle much more excitement than this. And tomorrow we get to work in the yard.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 19, 2010
JDJ
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
I am Thankful for my Students
Today was the last day of my classes for this semester. I had thought this was going to be an easy semester for me, but things got complex and it became one of those “the faster I go the farther behind I get” terms. The students made it a rewarding semester. I had a wonderful mix of students: internationals, experienced pastors, and young adults with little experience. One troubling trend is that I only had two female students, not counting a couple of directed studies.
I have not yet graded their papers but, based on class discussions, I am convinced on the whole they have a better grasp of the big issues than most classes. More importantly, they see the implications. I am thankful.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 18, 2010
JDJ
I have not yet graded their papers but, based on class discussions, I am convinced on the whole they have a better grasp of the big issues than most classes. More importantly, they see the implications. I am thankful.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 18, 2010
JDJ
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
I am Thankful for a Visit by Larry McQueen
Larry McQueen is our guest this week. He is in town for his graduate seminar for his doctoral program. Larry lived with us for a while shortly after we moved into this house and before he moved back home to Texas. He is family and he is a good house guest. He is also a great scholar, writer, musician, social critic, and conversationalist.
That’s the news from near Polk County,
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 17, 2010
JDJ
That’s the news from near Polk County,
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 17, 2010
JDJ
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I am Thankful for Our New Group “Free to Serve: Men and Women Leading Together in Unity.”
Two years ago I created the FB group “Free Our Church of God Women to Serve.” The purpose of that group is “to encourage the removal of restrictions that prevent women from serving in some ministry offices in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee).” It is open to members and friends of the Church of God. There are currently 776 members of that group.
In May of 2009 we had a strategy meeting here in Cleveland. Following the General Assembly this year we began a series of meetings to pray and plan our response. It was agreed to formally organize and so we elected an organizational committee to draw up an organizational plan. I chaired the committee and it met on a regular bases this fall.
This evening we had an organizational meeting and adopted a name and bylaws. The new group is named “Free to Serve: Men and Women Leading Together in Unity.” I am hopeful this group will provide leadership for our denomination in this matter. The group will meet on January to elect officers. We are planning to conduct conferences, publish materials, operate a web page, and other means of encouraging the full inclusion of women in the leadership of the church.
I am thankful for the new organization and I am hopeful for its future. For now I’m thinking about keeping the original group as named. Many people seem to have found the name offensive. I confess, it was intended to provoke a response. But a response is needed. I am thankful to have issued a challenge to the Church of God to “Free Our Church of God Women to Serve.” We must release everyone to serve in the capacities to which God calls them; to not do so is to be against Christ. We will answer to Him for ordaining persons He has not called and for not ordaining anyone He has called. I am confident He calls women to be pastors/elders in the Body of Christ and that Biblically qualifies them to be bishops. Bishops are by definition “elders.”
That’s my view from near Polk County.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 16, 2010
JDJ
In May of 2009 we had a strategy meeting here in Cleveland. Following the General Assembly this year we began a series of meetings to pray and plan our response. It was agreed to formally organize and so we elected an organizational committee to draw up an organizational plan. I chaired the committee and it met on a regular bases this fall.
This evening we had an organizational meeting and adopted a name and bylaws. The new group is named “Free to Serve: Men and Women Leading Together in Unity.” I am hopeful this group will provide leadership for our denomination in this matter. The group will meet on January to elect officers. We are planning to conduct conferences, publish materials, operate a web page, and other means of encouraging the full inclusion of women in the leadership of the church.
I am thankful for the new organization and I am hopeful for its future. For now I’m thinking about keeping the original group as named. Many people seem to have found the name offensive. I confess, it was intended to provoke a response. But a response is needed. I am thankful to have issued a challenge to the Church of God to “Free Our Church of God Women to Serve.” We must release everyone to serve in the capacities to which God calls them; to not do so is to be against Christ. We will answer to Him for ordaining persons He has not called and for not ordaining anyone He has called. I am confident He calls women to be pastors/elders in the Body of Christ and that Biblically qualifies them to be bishops. Bishops are by definition “elders.”
That’s my view from near Polk County.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 16, 2010
JDJ
Monday, November 15, 2010
I am Thankful for Rat Poison, Sometimes
We live in the country. Ah, the country: trees, fields, peace, quiet, tranquility. “Green acres is the place for me.” Currently we are in the early stages of a delayed fall. After a long summer of drought and a fall of record heat and more drought the temperatures have begun to drop and the Cleveland winter rain has returned. In my first year in Cleveland it rained every day for over sixty days.
There is nothing more beautiful than rain soaked, brilliantly colored trees and there is nothing more cozy than listening to the patter of rain while resting in the glow of the fireplace. Yes, it is times like these that our country friends gather into the warmth of our modest home. Grass spiders the size of saucers squeeze their way into the basement. Lady bugs form communes on the basement ceiling like day workers gathered at the local 7-Eleven, celebrating our economic recovery by competing for less than minimum wage construction jobs.
And then, there are the furry country cousins. After a long summer of enjoying nature’s bounty they sneak in through the cracks looking for a little comfort from the coming freeze. We haven’t seen any in years, but we know they are there. They scurry up and down and all around inside our walls and ceilings. And then the pitter patter of their little feet slows to a halt. The question is answered; last year’s rat poison is still potent. Silence settles in and the sweet aroma of their slow decay wafts through the house.
There is nothing quite like that smell. It penetrates your clothes, robs you appetite, and motivates you to work a little longer at the office. Believe me, I would give the poor creatures a Christian burial if I could find their remains, but I can’t. Whoever said “out of sight, out of mind” clearly had lost their sense of smell.
That’s the news from near Polk County.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 15, 2010
JDJ
There is nothing more beautiful than rain soaked, brilliantly colored trees and there is nothing more cozy than listening to the patter of rain while resting in the glow of the fireplace. Yes, it is times like these that our country friends gather into the warmth of our modest home. Grass spiders the size of saucers squeeze their way into the basement. Lady bugs form communes on the basement ceiling like day workers gathered at the local 7-Eleven, celebrating our economic recovery by competing for less than minimum wage construction jobs.
And then, there are the furry country cousins. After a long summer of enjoying nature’s bounty they sneak in through the cracks looking for a little comfort from the coming freeze. We haven’t seen any in years, but we know they are there. They scurry up and down and all around inside our walls and ceilings. And then the pitter patter of their little feet slows to a halt. The question is answered; last year’s rat poison is still potent. Silence settles in and the sweet aroma of their slow decay wafts through the house.
There is nothing quite like that smell. It penetrates your clothes, robs you appetite, and motivates you to work a little longer at the office. Believe me, I would give the poor creatures a Christian burial if I could find their remains, but I can’t. Whoever said “out of sight, out of mind” clearly had lost their sense of smell.
That’s the news from near Polk County.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 15, 2010
JDJ
Sunday, November 14, 2010
I am Thankful for Our Missions Minded Church
New Covenant is a giving congregation. During this calendar year we have given over $8,600.00 to Church of God missionaries. That amount is over ten percent of our total receipts for the year and does not include the portion of tithes set aside by the COG General Assembly. A week and a half ago we had a love feast fund raiser for a Bible College in Ghana, Africa and raised several hundred dollars for the students. A few days ago we got a notice that one of our missionaries was to short on funds to come home for Christmas. One of our deacons, Pat Wells, hastily put together a beans and cornbread lunch and bake sale for today. We raised $300.00.
We have a loving and giving congregation. No one is wealthy. All are sacrificial and I am thankful.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 14, 2010
JDJ
We have a loving and giving congregation. No one is wealthy. All are sacrificial and I am thankful.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 14, 2010
JDJ
Friday, November 12, 2010
I am Thankful for a Day to Work Outside
Tomorrow I plan to work outside for much of the day. If all goes well I will complete some projects that have been on hold for a couple of months, including spreading 1,200 pounds of fertilizer, clearing some downed trees, and distributing some grass seed. It should be wonderful and I am thankful just for the prospect.
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 12, 2010
JDJ
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 12, 2010
JDJ
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