(From the Flora Christian, November 30, 2007 edition)
Rob’s Ramblings. . . .
With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to the Christmas holiday season. (NOTE: I have been assured by the editorial staff of the Flora Christian—Bill and Chris—that it is still o.k. to call it “Christmas” in this newsletter.) We always have a lot of activity around the church family during this season, and I don’t want anyone to miss an opportunity to celebrate the season with us. Don’t forget that on Sunday, December 9, we will have our annual congregational dinner and meeting. On Sunday evening, December 16, we will go Christmas caroling in the community. And of course, on Christmas Eve, we will have special candlelight communion services to celebrate the gift of Jesus. There are also a lot of benevolent projects which go on each year inside the congregation and in the community at large, and everyone is encourages to participate in as many of these projects as are feasible for you and your family.
Each year at this time, I get requests to write or reprint some of the articles I have written in past years about the backgrounds of certain Christmas carols and hymns. Space and time do not permit me to do that this year in the Flora Christian, but I will be sharing some of those stories in a series of devotions I am putting together to be aired on WNOI on December 3-7. If you are interested in listening, be sure and tune in to 103.9 FM on those dates a little before 9:00 each morning.
If you love the music of the season as much as I do, be sure and join us in worship during the month of December. We will have a steady diet of Christmas music, to honor the birth of Jesus and glorify God. See you Sunday! Rob
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Honor to Whom Honor is Due
(From the The Flora Christian, November 16, 2007 edition)
I was honored to plan and participate in the Veteran’s Day service at FCC this past Sunday. Once again, I am glad I had the chance to say, “Thank you,” to those of you who have served in our nation’s military. Our veterans know that they have served this nation with honor and distinction, and they know how important that is in the world today. It reminds me of this quote by former President Ronald Reagan, “Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
We will have FISH groups for the next three Sunday evenings, and then break from December 9 until January 6. Make sure you mark your calendars for several important dates here at FCC:
1. November 25—Bret Koontz preaching in both morning services
2. December 9—Congregational potluck meal and Annual Meeting
3. December 16—FISH Group Christmas Caroling
4. December 24—Christmas Eve service
More information on these events will come in the next few weeks. Make sure you plan on being part of these and all FCC events.
See you Sunday! Rob
I was honored to plan and participate in the Veteran’s Day service at FCC this past Sunday. Once again, I am glad I had the chance to say, “Thank you,” to those of you who have served in our nation’s military. Our veterans know that they have served this nation with honor and distinction, and they know how important that is in the world today. It reminds me of this quote by former President Ronald Reagan, “Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
We will have FISH groups for the next three Sunday evenings, and then break from December 9 until January 6. Make sure you mark your calendars for several important dates here at FCC:
1. November 25—Bret Koontz preaching in both morning services
2. December 9—Congregational potluck meal and Annual Meeting
3. December 16—FISH Group Christmas Caroling
4. December 24—Christmas Eve service
More information on these events will come in the next few weeks. Make sure you plan on being part of these and all FCC events.
See you Sunday! Rob
Friday, November 9, 2007
What You Won't See on CNN
O.k., I'll make an admission right now about this post: I have no idea if these stories are true. Also, I have to admit that these stories make me feel good about our military, our nation, and the war we are fighting against terrorism around the world. Therefore, I felt like posting these and I'll let you decide if they're true or not (how's that for "real" journalism?). These came in an email from my friend Dr. Todd Hamilton in Anderson, SC. If you're ever there and need a root canal, look him up (I'm sure he's in the book. Look him up under "Dentists That Prescribe HGH To Pro Athlete's Without An Examination.").
Anyway, here's some stuff you won't read in the major papers or see on the networks or CNN:
Story #1--
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of Empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
Story #2--
At a conference in France a number of international engineers were taking part. During a break one of the French engineers came into the room saying, "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly, "Our aircraft carriers have threehospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three large cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can easly produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters that can be used for transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?"
Once again, dead silence.
Story #3--
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks, when a French admiral suddenly complained that, "Whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English." He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe its because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you wouldn't have to speak German."
You could have heard a pin drop!
This year, on Veteran's Day, maybe we should just pray for our nation's leaders, including President Bush, pray for our soldiers, and say, "Thank You," to those who have served.
Anyway, here's some stuff you won't read in the major papers or see on the networks or CNN:
Story #1--
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of Empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
Story #2--
At a conference in France a number of international engineers were taking part. During a break one of the French engineers came into the room saying, "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly, "Our aircraft carriers have threehospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three large cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can easly produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters that can be used for transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?"
Once again, dead silence.
Story #3--
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks, when a French admiral suddenly complained that, "Whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English." He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe its because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you wouldn't have to speak German."
You could have heard a pin drop!
This year, on Veteran's Day, maybe we should just pray for our nation's leaders, including President Bush, pray for our soldiers, and say, "Thank You," to those who have served.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Once Upon a Time in Heaven. . . .
Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God. "Where have you been?"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've created."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."
"Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth but cold and harsh while southern Europe is going to be poor but sunny and pleasant. I have made some lands abundant in water and other lands parched deserts. This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."
The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass and said, "What's that one?"
"Ah," said God. "That's the United States of America, the most glorious place on earth. There will be beautiful prairies, grasslands, farms, streams, abundant wild game and birds, rolling hills and woodlands. The people from the United States are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace."
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!"
God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I put in charge in Washington!!!"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've created."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."
"Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth but cold and harsh while southern Europe is going to be poor but sunny and pleasant. I have made some lands abundant in water and other lands parched deserts. This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."
The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass and said, "What's that one?"
"Ah," said God. "That's the United States of America, the most glorious place on earth. There will be beautiful prairies, grasslands, farms, streams, abundant wild game and birds, rolling hills and woodlands. The people from the United States are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace."
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!"
God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I put in charge in Washington!!!"
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