Fun, fun, fun in the sun, sun, sun...

Photo by Laura Reich

What a great time we all had in the Taylor Cup softball game! The graduate students beat the undergrads by 2 runs... despite Amanda Matthews trying to skew the score in the undergrads favor.

Yours truly served as the impartial, can't-be-rattled umpire. Despite the threat of an "F" from Dr. Cogdill and Dr. Jones (they were just joking, right?), I called the game as fairly as possible.

Add to that a little sun burn and a voice blown by yelling "You're out!" several times and it was a blast!

Now I just hope my voice recovers before my recital this Saturday...

More pictures from the game can be seen here.

Arby's is on fire

The Arby's in New Bern, NC burned two Sundays ago. I was on my way to church and saw the smoke and flames around 8:30 a.m. I felt no need to call 911 as there were several people with cell phones standing outside. The McDonald's behind Arby's was engulfed in smoke from the fire. The fire has been ruled accidental.

I shared in our church's morning assembly that "Arby's is on fire." Some snickers followed.

"You mean it's 'on fire' on fire or 'they're having a good sale' on fire?"

"'On fire' on fire," I answered.

It was a sad scene. Arby's is my favorite place to eat.


I was introduced to Arby's many years ago by my Great Uncle Doc. It was always a special treat to ride with Uncle Doc into Jacksonville, the location (for a long time) of the only Arby's in the area.

The area around the store is now fenced in. Police regualrly patrol the area to keep people safe. I have heard no offical word about rebuilding.



Ah... roast beef. There's nothing else like it.

But at the Arby's in New Bern, it might be a bit well done.

Bulletins

I spent several years "doing" church bulletins. Here is a listing of some famous (or infamous) mistakes that are often circulated. I've added my thoughts after each one.

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. Cost of the meals: $0. Knowing they were offered anyway: priceless.
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The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.' I think he went down over there!
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Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. Wasn't that done 2,000 years ago?
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. Ouch.
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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict. But was it an unforeseen conflict?
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you. Right back at you!
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. One of the church's strengths, no doubt.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. Do I really need to say anything here?
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. Is this what they mean by surrogate parents?
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. Great, now we'll need even more choir robes.
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The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing: 'Break Forth Into Joy.' Hallelujah!
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. Too bad. They were a nice couple.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice. Enough with the choir already!
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones. I told you they needed choir robes!
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. Is there much call for this these days?
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered. Ew!
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. As opposed to ungracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. "Upset stomach, indigestion, diarrhea..."
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. I've seen the ladies of the church. I'll pass on that.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. Ready and willing.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM . All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done. Oh, you meant Bible Study...
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. I didn't know there were electric ones...
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door. Kick a man when he's down.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Hamlet doesn't end very well, either.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.Please use the large double door at the side entrance. Does no one proofread for content... or context?
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours'. There's no need to be rude about it.

My most famous mistake in a bulletin was instead of "Morning Message - Pastor" putting "Morning Massage - Pastor." He wanted to know if he was giving or receiving.

I got a laugh out of these... I hope you do, too.

Adoption News

We received our first child profile for possible adoption today! It's very exciting!

It was a one page profile with a color picture. I'm not sure how many details I can give, so I will keep this brief. She is adorable with moderate (but easily cared for) medical problems.

What happens now? Our social worker has sent out family/home picture album and case study to the child's social worker. That social worker will give our study to that county's adoption approval committe. If we are chosen as being the perfect family (other families are probably applying for her as well), then we will meet with her face-to-face.

We have no idea how long the process will take. Updates will come as they are available.

"He Is Risen! ...

He is risen, indeed!"

That's the greeting early Christians shared on Easter as they gathered to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Almost 2,000 years later, we still share that same greeting in our churches.

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

In honor of Mr. Rogers

Today would have been Fred Rogers' 80th birthday.

Family Communications Inc. of Pittsburgh, the company Rogers started to help produce his show, has encouraged today, March 20, to be "Sweater Day."

"Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" has been a staple of PBS stations for years. In addition to changing his shoes at the start of each episode, one of Rogers' trademarks was the sweater he would wear every day.

I always enjoyed watching Mr. Rogers, and was more than willing to participate. Unfortunately, the only other person I saw wearing a sweater today was Dr. Tony Cartledge, my instructor for Ministry of Writing at Campbell University Divinity School (through whom I learned about this special day). Many others said they wanted to wear a sweater, but a) didn't have one or b) forgot. Oh, well.

My wife was nice enough to snap this shot of me wearing my sweater. She calls it my "old man" sweater. It doesn't make me look old, does it?

Christians & Commandments

This is an assignment due at Campbell Univeristy Divinity School for the Ministry of Writing class on Thursday, March 20, 2008. The assignment is to write a 600-word "lesson commentary" on a Bible passage of my choice. Here's a preview . . .


CHRISTIANS & COMMANDMENTS
Focal Passage: Mark 12:28-34

We often hear fellow Christians say that we do not follow the Ten Commandments because Jesus came to do away with them; or, he fulfilled them, and so we don’t have to worry about following them. Just what did Jesus have to say about the Ten Commandments? What about commandments in general? Did he have any special thoughts about commandments that should affect the way we live today?

The word “commandment” has several different meanings. In general, a commandment could be any authoritative instruction. Specifically, the Old Testament commandments were religious in nature, often concerning moral issues. There was a personal quality to the commandments given by God because these formed the covenant relationship between God and his chosen people, Israel. Being personal in nature, these commandments required a person to give his or her whole self in observance of them.

In later years, the Jews would recognize more than just ten commandments. Akiba, a first century AD Rabbi, identified 613 commandments contained within the Old Testament. Of these, 365 are prohibitions and 248 are mandates. These 613 commandments are often positioned within their relationship to the “original” Ten Commandments.

Jesus graciously answered when asked by one the scribes to identify the greatest commandment. It may surprise some Christians to know that the answer Jesus gave was based on two Old Testament commandments. The first, related to love for God, comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (with echoes of Joshua 22:5). Deuteronomy 6:4 is called the Shema by Jews and is recited twice per day by devout Jews. Deuteronomy 6:5 is called the V’ahavta. Both form a central part of Jewish worship services.

It is no surprise then that Jesus would choose this commandment, and his questioner was pleased with this response. The second commandment Jesus identified, love of neighbor, comes from Leviticus 19:18. Here Jesus has identified two commandments that he esteemed to be important. Both of these commandments would be known to the Jews of Jesus’ day.

When Jesus says, “the second is like unto it,” what he really says is: “this is just like the first one.” It is difficult to know if Jesus meant “just like” in terms of importance or that it relates to love, like the first one mentioned.

Many scholars have observed that Jesus’ answer “sums up” the Ten Commandments. The first four commandments are related to love for God; the last six, for our fellow man. Most would agree that love for God and love for neighbor is a Christian doctrine. What may be the dividing factor between the Christian and the ancient Jewish view is the motivation for obedience.

The apostle Paul recognized this distinction in his letter to the church at Rome: “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:8-10, NRSV). This is how Jesus “fulfilled” the law. In loving God and one another, we fulfill the law today.

Do Christians still follow the commandments today? Yes, but for an entirely different reason than the people of the Old Testament. They obeyed from a position of obligation; we obey out of love.

My kingdom for an alternator

I had to be at Campbell early today, so I got up at 4:00 a.m. I'm not sure if that's Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time. I do know it's whichever one feels earlier!

It was my turn to lead the home schooled children in my Music Ministry with Children class at Campbell Univeristy Divinity School taught by Dr. Whitley. I had all my materials planned out, the songs ready, and a really cool closing group acitivity. I needed to be there by 7:00 a.m. to prepare the room.

It's a two-and-a-quarter hour ride, so I left at 4:30 a.m. Then, disaster struck! It's 5:30 a.m., I've just passed through Kinston, and... the lights start going in and out. And then the speedometer stops working. And then the car stops alltogether.

Thankfully, I had enough intertia to coast into a small convenience store's parking lot. I immeidately called Dr. Whitley - at 5:30 a.m., leaving a message, of course - to tell him of my calamity. My next call? 1-800-AAA-HELP, otherwise known as AAA Roadside Assistance.

The lady I spoke with wanted to know if I was in a safe location, and wanted me to know that she wanted me to have the best experience possible with AAA. I didn't tell her, but things were off to a bad start since I needed to call in the first place. "Someone will be there within 45 mintues," she says at 5:35 a.m.

I then called my wife, Joleanna. And before we can finish our call, AAA calls back. "Did I say 45 minutes? I meant an hour-and-a-half." (Insert half-hearted smile.) So, I called Dr. Whitley again (and left a message again): I'm definately not going to make it.

The tow truck arrived at 7:20 a.m. and took me and my car to Colony Tire in New Bern. "Hi, Mr. Cannon. What can we do for you?" It's never a good thing when the shop owner knows you by name. I told him I figured it was the alternator. He agreed, and said they would check to make sure the battery was still good, too.

I called Lynn Brinkley at Campbell to have her spread the word that I wouldn't be at ensemble or chapel. As time passed, it became obvious I wouldn't make my other classes as well. I emailed my assignment to Dr. Jones and he was nice enough to email me back the Power Point presentation for today's class. And I called my voice teacher to tell her I wouldn't be able to meet with her today either.

So, around 2:00 p.m. I get a call that the car is ready. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cannon," the shop owner says, "that your alternator costs so much." Of course it does. Things for my car are always more expensive.

The day's shot. Dr. Whitley emailed back that class went fine. I feel bad about not being there, but there was little I could do. I got my assignments in and got word to everyone that I wouldn't be there.

At least I was okay. Hopefully things will be better tomorrow.

Like Nails on a Blackboard

Public Radio East (PRE) is the name of New Bern's local public radio station. Broadcasting from Craven Community College, PRE has two networks: one plays classical music and news from National Public Radio (NPR); the other plays various NPR news programs. One of the NPR news programs broadcast on PRE is "All Things Considered."

"All Things Considered" is a late-afternoon NPR news program. The show offers a wrap-up of the day's new stories. I'm usually in the car when the show comes on (4 p.m. in our area). The one irritating thing about the program is the local announcer.

At various points in the show a local announcer will give a list of local sponsors, updates on news stories of local interest, weather forecasts, or special interest features.

The problem is one of mispronunciation. The local announcer will say: "All Thangs Considered is made possible by..." I cringe each time I hear it. The word is "thing."I have often thought of calling and making a complaint, but I'm not sure it would make much of a difference.

I know, it's just one vowel. But I am a communicator as well, through various mediums: writing, teaching, singing, or preaching. It is important that I can be understood. So why not this announcer as well?

Is it asking too much that someone just pronounce the word correctly?

Ministry of Writing Class for Thursday, March 13, 2008

We talked about writing commentaries in Ministry of Writing class today. There was some confusion about what was meant by "commentary." Some people had in mind the sholarly volumes found in libraries used to write exegesis papers. Dr. Cartledge explained that what we were writing as a commentary was more of a study guide for Sunday school teachers or students.

Class members brought in samples of commentaries from publications, most likely Baptists Today or the Biblical Recorder. Somehow the example I had was not well written. It's not the first time something I brought to class as an example was not top notch. How do I keep picking these poorly written articles?

After class I had a nice conversation with Dr. Cartledge about possibly submitting my article on writing an exegesis paper to Dr. Cogdill and Dr. Jones for distribution to new students. He thought it was a good idea and suggested that we go over it together to see where the writing could be "tightened up."

I also asked him about submitting my commentary (once written) for publication in Baptists Today or the Biblical Recorder. He suggested that I send it in as a sample of my writing and ask to be considered for any future writing assingments. He also said that the pay was less than stellar, but most writers submitted articles for print exposure, not money.

And I shared with him that Joleanna and I are going to see Garrison Keillor of "A Prairie Home Companion" at ECU in Greenville, NC on the last Monday in April. Dr. Cartledge quipped that he liked Keillor's radio show much more than his movie. I haven't seen it, but may have to look into seeing the movie sometime soon.