Tough Day

I was just trying to dream, but my mind kept wandering.

Facing the Winds

On Galveston Bay there is a little community that was settled around 1898 and has long since been swallowed up by the sprawl of Houston. This little town is called Kemah. Kemah is an Indian word meaning "facing the winds." Right now, however, most of the people in that community have the wind at their backs as they are fleeing yet another major hurricane that has found its way into the gulf.

I have been struck by the reaction to Rita as she gathers steam in the gulf. Every person I have heard discuss it has said they hope against hope that Rita does not go the Louisiana or Mississippi coasts. I think I understand that they mean well, but I do not agree. Sure, as someone involved in ranching I would like the rain that would probably reach West Texas if Rita slammed into the Texas coast, but I still do not want Rita to hit in Texas. It is not because I value Texas over Louisiana or Mississippi. Rather, I just happen to think that if one area has been wiped out and another has not, why not not hit the wasteland rather than creating a new one?

Harsh? I don't think so. I just happen to think one disaster area is better than two. Further, one is already evacuated. Insensitive? No more so than people wanting Texans to be hit by a storm. Does it matter? Absolutely not. I don't happen to have any control over a storm. But I know someone who does...

Correction

My last post indicated I would be the worship leader on Sunday, but I need to offer a correction. I started losing my voice on Thursday and by Friday afternoon it was completely gone. From then through Monday afternoon all I could do was squeak or whisper. I have been able to audibly communicate today, but I sound like Barry White going through puberty, which is quite weird. Anyway, thank you to Jeremiah for filling in for me on Sunday.

If you have been trying to call me the past few days and wonder why I haven't answered the phone, I literally have not been able to talk, so please accept my apologies.

More later....

Oddities and a Watusi

Over the past 24 hours I have had a few odd conversations on the telephone. Not particularly interesting- but odd. Here are some transcripts.

Me: Hello?

Them: What are you doing?

Me: Well, I am talking on the phone like I have been doing non-stop for almost three hours.

Them: Well it sounds to me like you need to get off the phone and get some work done like somebody with a real job.

Me: Good point. (click)

(Man that felt good! Even if they did call back immediately in a foul mood.)

Here's another. I had received a message to return a call to someone identifying themselves only as "Pastor Smith."

Them: Hello?

Me: May I speak to Pastor Smith.

Them: Yeah, this is Justin (or maybe Jason).

Me: Yes, sir. I am responding to a message I received to call you, but there was no indication as to why.

Them: Who are you?

Me: Val Durrington.

Them: Why did I call you?

Me: I'm sorry. I don't know.

Them: Hmmm... Do you work with bees or cash registers?

(Looong pause)

Me: Umm. What kind of church do you work for? (Actually I just said "Umm... no.)

Them: Well, if I figure out what it was I'll call you back.

Me: Okay, I guess. (click)

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Today I rode around a ranch with a multi-millionaire. He had a pet watusi. Apparently it is an animal as well as a dance. We found it laying in the shade. It had HUGE horns that were bigger at the base than my thighs and probably each one was about six feet long. The rancher honked at it and it got up. I am pretty sure it could have totalled the truck with very little effort. The rancher spoke up, "I was gonna have us get out and pet it because it really is gentle, but he actually looks like he's not in a good mood." Mr. Watusi just kind of looked at us as though he were only mildly interested in us but it was the kind of interest one might have for a pesky fly they were thinking of swatting. We left.

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I am almost done writing the first round of papers for my class. The second half of the class is next weekend here in Abilene. For part of the next class I will need to be in Dallas so if you know of a place to stay let me know, although I may just get a hotel so it is more conducive to studying.

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Also, if anyone knows of someone looking for a house in the Brookhollow area in Abilene, let me know. I expect to have one for sale within the next 2-3 months.

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Here is the worship order for Sunday:

Highland Church of Christ
September 18, 2005
Worship

Worship Leader: Val Durrington


2- We Praise Thee O God
screen- Shout to the Lord
screen- Salvation Belongs to Our God

Call to Worship: Psalm 63-1-5
“All Who Are Thirsty”
71- As the Deer
The Lord’s Prayer

1st ~ 3 years through Kindergarten to God’s Garden
15- Step By Step

Matthew 5:3-12
screen- Come, Ye Sinners
Message: Holy Hunger In a World of Gluttony ~ Mike Cope
screen- Hear Our Praises

Communion
Thoughts & Prayers ~ ?
837- I Need Thee Every Hour (1-3)
“The Cup of Christ”
837- (vs 4)

Tithes & Offerings
Special Announcement ~ Jenevene Hester
Family Concerns: Dickie Porche
Pastoral Prayer ~ Rob Cunningham / Gary White

Benediction: Isaiah 55:1-3a ~ Mike
591- Who Can Satisfy My Soul Like You?

And I get it outta my head...

Pursuant to Mike's blog today about songs getting stuck in one's head, I thought I would welcome a list of songs that are particularly adept at getting stuck. I'll get it started:

I want my baby back - baby back - baby back - baby back - baby back - baby back - baby back.

Levity

Perhaps it is my imagination, but there seems to be a funk decending on our nation lately. The events of the last few weeks are probably an obvious cause. At any rate, how about just a little levity to cleanse the palate?
Captions?

I wonder what kind of bitter hatred is required to make someone use the event of a tragedy to try to score political coup against someone? Frankly, for one to be so consumed by this hatred as to use the events of last week as their platform is disgraceful. I am sure in retrospect they will regret that. Actually, I doubt it.

When the facts come out on all of this, it may be appropriate to discuss where the system failed those in New Orleans. But until then, comments are gossip and slander. At least those who are consumed by such speech will probably be the first to apologize if they find out they were wrong. Actually I doubt it.

Despite the fact that (would you ever believe it) people are not perfect and the systems they employ are therefore imperfect, I know that God will somehow be glorified through the events of last week. Whether it is in some grand way that actually reaches the cameras of Fox and CNN or whether it is in a dark corner of despair wherein the love of Christ shines a glimmer of hope, I don't doubt that at all.

My classes begin tonight, though in light of world events it seems like we have more to learn than one lifetime will allow.


It seems very obvious to me that New Orleans should never be rebuilt on site. This disaster has revealed a vulnerability that will not go un-noticed. Somewhere a terrorist is watching TV and saying to himself: "So all I would have had to do is blow up a levy and a major city would have been destroyed and those left would turn on each other? Please, oh please, rebuild!"


No matter where we live, we are only a few hours away from anarchy.


Why was there such a difference in the response of the local citizenry to the events of 09/11/2001 and 08/25/2005?


Why would anyone say that Katrina hit so someone could get what they deserve? It is suicide for any of us to suggest that people need to get what they deserve, Robert Kennedy.


Lord, come quickly...