Out the Door

Giving Thanks for New Sharon UMC

Thanksgiving Day naturally leads one to consider what there is to be thankful for.  One of my greatest thanks is that I pastor a really great church. 

Together we recently had the opportunity review what had been accomplished in 2007.  It was totally amazing.  Here's some of the numbers:

     155:  The average number of children, youth, and adults who attend Sunday School each week.  That puts the church in the top 5% of all UM churches in Iowa and number one in the South Central District.

      60:  The average number of Jr. & Sr. high school students who attend PROS (Persons Relying On their Savior) each Thursday evening.

      100%:  The increase in our financial support to Safe Water International Ministries so far this year over 2006's total.

      7:  The number of adult discipleship groups presently meeting.

     40:  The average number of elementary students who attend GEMS and Cadets on Thursday.

     12:  The number of young people who confirmed their faith last spring.

     15:  The number of years that Rev. Kevin Glesener served the New Sharon UMC before moving on to become a workplace chaplan.

     8:  The number of part-time lay staff persons who provide excellent leadership in all areas of the church's ministries.

     26:  The number of youth and adults who spent a week serving others at a workcamp last summer.

     9,300:  The dollars raised to send those individuals to the workcamp.

     88:  The number of keys on the baby grand piano which now sits in our sanctuary.

     1:  The number of gods the people of the New Sharon UMC faithfully serve, to whom belongs all glory and honor and thanksgiving.

God's Pie

Central Christian Church, Las Vegas

XO Giving provides laptops to developing world children

Thinking about giving a laptop to a child on your Christmas list this year.  XO Giving is making it possible to put an inexpensive computer under your tree, while at the same time giving one to a child in a developing nation.  The XO Giving imitative requires North Americans to pay $399.  This is the purchase price of two laptops.  One goes to the purchaser and the other to a needy child in the third world.

This offer only lasts until November 26, so you have to act fast.  Check out xogiving.org or laptop.org for more info.

High School Football Team Forced to Forfeit Championship Game

West High School was forced to forfeit its championship hopes when the entire team was put on suspension for violating the school's PDA (public display of affection) rules.  After a dramatic last second win over Lincoln High, the West HS players rushed the field and were observed hugging one another, giving high-fives and slapping each other on the behind.  Principal Weary said that the players had been warned after an similar incident earlier in the season that such behavior would not be tolerated.  The ruling has caused an uproar around the community.  Principle Weary told reporters, "This is an unfortunate incident, however the school handbook is clear that physical contact among students is strictly forbidden."  It states:  “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.”

The above scenario is entirely fiction except for the final sentence.  That sentence comes from the Mascoutah, Illinois school handbook and has resulted in Megan Culter serving two days of detention for putting her arm around the shoulder of two friends.  Read the entire story.

This is just another example of political correctness run amok.  There's no room for common sense in a PC world.  There is plenty of room for hypocrisy however.