Thanks, American! What's next? Pay toilets on flights under two hours' duration? $1 per cocktail napkin fee? Seat belt usage reimbursement? 50 cent beverage glass disposal fee when the flight attendant moves about the cabin? You want ice with that lukewarm ginger ale? That will be a quarter per cube, please.
I used to have American Airlines as my favorite carrier. No longer.
Last night I was toying with a mapping tool that I sometimes use to scope out bike routes. It is based on the Google Maps API, and has features that allow small line segment drawing for routes and also a graph for elevation changes along the entirety of the route.
The thought ran through my head -- what if we have hugely expensive oil / $7-8/gal gasoline prices. How would that affect my pastoral ministry -- especially making calls on the flock? How would that affect the ability of our far-flung membership to make it to mid-week activities? To worship services on the Lord's Day? How would that affect the fellowship of the saints, how we interact with one another?
Some of our families live 18-50 miles from the church's facilities (farthest reaches, from north to south=70 miles; east-west=68 miles). If things got really bad, my guess is that our elders would probably think that real oversight of these families would be impractical and recommend that they look seriously at 1) relocating their membership to an evangelical congregation in their immediate environs; or, 2) physically relocate to the neighborhood surrounding the church's facilities (some are already either doing that or planning to do that in the near to middle future).
Another possibility is to "circuit ride" in making pastoral visits (both in town and out of town) (have Schwinn, will travel). I envisioned a scenario where I'd ride out to visit a family out in the boonies, spend the night with them, and then ride to the next family. I've already done a couple of pastoral visits in-town using my bike, as well as going to appointments to check up on folks, drink coffee, etc.
Mid-week prayer meetings might be shifted to include online participation. We'd probably shift more to a truly parish-type ministry.
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| OKWX |
One of the cool things about living in the Great Plains is to see clouds like this. Paul, a doctor in our congregation who lives about 15 miles north of me, alerted me to this cloud. It was magnificent, much more pinkish than this picture has it. By the time we all got saddled up to find a good view from a church parking lot near us, it had faded to what you see here. Our summer cloud-to-cloud electrical storms are a sight to behold, too!
THE EARTH FILLED WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD.
[click here for a pdf version of this sermon]
Numbers xiv. 20, 21-And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: but as truly
as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Preached at Baltimore, September 9th, 1835, at the Annual Meeting of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
By SAMUEL MILLER, D. D.,
Professor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New-Jersey.
An excerpt from the "duties" --
4. A further duty, in reference to the promise before us, is, that we pray without ceasing for the power of the Holy Spirit, to render all the means which are employed for its accomplishment, effectual. When we recollect the extent and difficulty of the work to be done: how many millions are yet in darkness and misery how hard and full of enmity the human heart; and how obstinately the warnings and entreaties of mercy have been resisted; -- we may well despair of human wisdom and strength; and look to Almighty power alone for success. It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah, that means are attended with a saving energy. Had we millions of the most learned, eloquent and holy preachers in Christendom to send forth, and all the funds that could be asked or desired for this enterprise; -- all would be in vain, unless the power of the Almighty Spirit went along with the laborers. While, therefore, we labor with unwearied perseverance for the conversion of the world; while we raise funds with growing liberality; while we select, instruct and send forth the most able and devoted missionaries that we can find, and while we employ all the means in our power for imparting the Gospel to every creature; let us remember, that all will be unavailing, unless the Holy Spirit accompany and give efficacy to the means employed. Let every thing pertaining to the spread of the Gospel, be done under the deep impression, that, in our own strength we can effect nothing; that the promise is Jehovah's word; that the accomplishment of it is Jehovah's work; that to Him, of course, for bringing to pass what he has promised, every eye and every heart ought to be directed. And allow me, my beloved friends, to say, we are never likely to be either so happy, or so successful in any enterprise for extending the Redeemer's kingdom, as when we lie in the dust of abasement, sensible of our utter inability to command, by our own power, the least portion of the blessing which we seek; and placing all our dependence for success, at every step, on the Holy Spirit's life-giving energy. And I must also be allowed to say, that, in my own view, this doctrine, viz. that success is all of God, instead of being a legitimate source of discouragement, is, while it humbles, at the same time, one of the most comforting and animating of all doctrines. For though it be most true, that he who planteth is nothing, and he who watereth is nothing -- but God that giveth the increase; -- it is also equally true, that all hearts are in his hands, and that he is able to turn the most blind and hardened to himself, as the rivers of water are turned. O, it is sweet to the believing heart, to lean on God; to plead his promises; and to rejoice in the assurance, that though man cannot do it by reason of weakness, He "with whom all things are possible," and who "cannot lie," hath promised that the whole "earth shall be filled with his glory;" and that He is at once able and faithful to bring it to pass.
North Korea Remains No. 1 Persecutor Of Christians
SANTA ANA, CA (Feb. 4, 2008) - This year's No. 1 spot on Open Doors' 2008 World Watch List is no stranger: North Korea has now topped the list for six years in a row.
There is no other country in the world where Christians are being persecuted in such a horrible and relentless way. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia holds a solid No. 2 place, followed closely by Iran. Maldives is No. 4.
New at No. 5 is Bhutan, moving a few places up from No. 7 last year, mainly because Somalia and Yemen saw a decrease in persecution. The No. 6 spot is taken by Yemen, whose position did not change in spite of a slight drop on the persecution scale.
Afghanistan rose from No. 10 to No. 7.
Laos saw little change in religious freedom last year, but it moved up one place, from No. 9 to No. 8. Two new countries entered the Top 10: Uzbekistan at No. 9 and China No. 10. Uzbekistan was No. 11 last year and China No. 12.
Islam is the majority religion in six of the top 10 countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen and Uzbekistan. Three countries have communist governments: North Korea, Laos and China. Bhutan is the only Buddhist country on the Top 10 list.
The World Watch List ranks countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith. The list is compiled based on the answers to 50 questions covering various aspects of religious freedom from Open Doors' indigenous contacts, field workers and persecuted believers.
More Christians were arrested in North Korea in 2007 than in 2006. Many have been beaten, tortured or killed because of their religious beliefs. Open Doors' local source estimates the number of underground Christians to be at least 200,000, and it's likely that there are as many as 400,000 to 500,000 believers. At least a quarter of the Christians are imprisoned for their faith in political prison camps, from which people rarely get out alive.
Carl Moeller, President/CEO of Open Doors USA, says: "It is certainly not a shock that North Korea is No. 1 on the shame list for the sixth year in a row. There is no other country in the world where Christians are being persecuted in such a horrible and systematic manner. I encourage you to join our prayer campaign for North Korea and to plug in to the many opportunities Open Doors offers to advocate for the oppressed believers during North Korea Freedom Week April 27-May 3."
In Shariah-ruled Saudi Arabia, the deplorable state of religious freedom remained generally unaltered in 2007. Under the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islamic law, apostasy (conversion to another religion) is punishable by death if the accused does not recant. There were no reports of executions for apostasy in 2007.
Islam is the official religion in Iran, and all laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of Shariah law. Although Christians are a recognized religious minority who are guaranteed religious freedom, they have reported imprisonment, harassment and discrimination because of their faith.
The status of religious freedom for Christians deteriorated in 2007 in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan (from No. 17 to No. 15), Libya (from No. 26 to No. 23), Jordan (from No. 40 to No. 39), Belarus (from No. 42 to No. 41) and the Palestinian Territories (No. 42).
In Afghanistan, the major incident of the 23 South Korean Christians who were abducted in July 2007 gave the country a worse mark than in 2006, though other incidents also contributed to this.
China is a large country with many contradictions. There are Christians who are restricted in their freedom to worship, but there are also areas where the situation is not as tight. Sometimes the government crackdowns against Christians were motivated by preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008 and not by anti-Christian grounds. The government wants to make sure that there is no risk for any instability during 2008. The way they want to achieve this differs per area and situation. Sometimes unprecedented politeness is used, but there are also reports of house church raids and arrests.
In Pakistan the influence of fanatic Muslims increased in the state security forces and the police, which meant that Christians in general were more closely monitored than before. Also the number of attacks on churches, Christian homes and other meeting places increased.
New on the World Watch List are the Palestinian Territories, where a Christian was murdered and several others were imprisoned, questioned and beaten because of their faith.
Changes for the better were recorded in Somalia (from No. 4 to No. 12), Vietnam (from No. 8 to No. 17), Burma (from No. 19 to No. 25, Ethiopia (from No. 37 to No. 43) and Colombia (from No. 43 to 50).
In Somalia this past year Open Doors did not receive reports of Christians being killed or physically harassed and kidnapped for their faith, as in 2006. However, Islam is the national religion and social pressure is strong to respect Islamic tradition.
Vietnam is in transition. Entire denominations and several house churches have received permission or registration. However, there are still religious prisoners, at least one believer was killed, and tribal areas experience a greater degree of restrictions compared with their urban counterparts. Overall though, the church is enjoying more freedom than in decades.Algerian Crisis Update
"Dad, I'm ready for you to go to prison, if it is for Jesus' sake"
This was the response of a young Algerian teenager to the news of his father's recent prison sentence, which, thankfully, has since been revoked. The situation for the churches in Algeria has reached crisis point at a speed that is hard to take in. The Algerian authorities continue to distribute notices that all Protestant churches should be closed until they are 'in conformity'. What is meant by this term is unclear and any administrative attempt to gain 'authorization' has proved unsuccessful.
For many years, Christians in Algeria have enjoyed relative tolerance and freedom even though Algeria is a fairly conservative Muslim country. With this freedom, the church in Algeria has seen astounding growth. Some mountain villages now have more Christians than Muslims. The fruit of decades of Christian work and witness by missionaries who were later expelled from the country is everywhere in evidence.
But the advance of the Gospel has provoked a serious backlash. The situation for believers in Algeria began to change when a law was passed that condemned to imprisonment anyone who 'shook the faith of a Muslim'. This law is open to the widest of interpretations.
As we freely celebrate the Saviour, who went to the cross and rose again for our sakes, let us remember our Christian brothers and sisters in Algeria and across the Arab world, who have been privileged to suffer for Jesus' sake.
(click on image to enbiggen)
Image info: from Plan59 Bohn Aluminum & Brass, 1947| Arthur Radebaugh (?)
Today on W.O.T., we uncover another portion of the decades-long conspiracy to introduce Bovine Growth Hormone as a means of increasing milk production. Exhibited above for your consideration, this "Milk Tanker of the Gods," from 1947. Already, 61 years ago, plans were on the drawing boards to haul this Niagara of milk flow!
Let's talk about this representation of the "house of tomorrow" --
Fred McNabb, c. 1956, http://www.plan59.com/av/av357.htm
Nothing here looks out of the ordinary -- we have these things in some fashion today (I know, personal helicraft are a stretching things a bit, but they do exist today) -- except......
WHY IS IT THAT SOME ARTISTS PORTRAY MEN OF THE FUTURE AS WEARING THOSE DORKY SHORTS??? I mean, come 'on, it works in Bermuda, maybe, but the ensemble there also includes a sport coat. Grandpop and El Numero Uno both are wearing shorts. With knee socks. The only ones who can pull that off, in my experience, from a sartorial stand-point, are the aforementioned Bermudans ('cause everyone is expected to dress that way) and naval officers in summer white short uniforms. I worked the summer of '76 in a downtown Dallas sporting goods warehouse and rode the bus from the University Park area to work. One swealtering day (already 82 at 8 AM; it topped at 105 that day, I think), a lieutenant and a lieutenant commander came aboard sportin' the white shorts, white knee socks, and white dress oxfords look. A lot of the businessmen in suits stared at the guys in their whites and it seemed they had a "sure wish I could go to the office like that look." Me? I was in a ratty t-shirt and jeans. But really. Would Ross Perot have dressed like that? T. Boone Pickins? I thought so. So this futurtastical dream is that.
To prove my point, here's another pic:
Spaceport of the Future c. 1957 | James R. Powers
Check out astro-boy on the left, next to his 1959-inspired car. Now, it seems that the surgeon general's report on cancer sticks didn't survive the coming world wars that later were replaced by a new golden age of space travel, replete with such swoopy rockets as the "Dream Clipper" being serviced. But what is worse - there is a helmet, AND shorts. I have always thought that they were mutually exclusive, not in a "no whites after Labor Day" sort of way, but, you know, like not having your blood boil out of you sort of way.
