Sunday, March 09, 2014

And it isn't even spring ...

Thanks for all the Facebook reminders this morning that Daylight Saving Time has returned. Otherwise ...

Actually, the computer updated automatically --- so I think I'd have been OK. But you never know.

The poster here dates from 1918, when the United States first adopted DST in a move related in some way to the war effort.

We're still debating its merits. I don't really mind --- but it never really seems like that hour "lost" when the shift occurs ever is recovered.

+++

The Des Moines Register has this morning what promises to be an interesting article about Lucas County's newest neighbors --- our large community of emigrants from Ukraine --- under the headline "Ukrainians give thanks for the peace and quiet of Iowa."

Go read it for yourself if interested. I can't --- having dissipated my allotment of "free" Register stories for a 30-day period. I will go buy a Sunday paper a little later, however.

This seems to be the sort of regional reporting The Register used to be known for before staff cuts and the retreat to Des Moines' "golden circle." It's also the sort of story that tempts me to subscribe ($10 monthly for new subscribers; undoubtedly more as time progresses), but more than half the time the report turns out to be disappointing --- which is why I go buy paper and then don't.

+++

Since it's Sunday morning, my Facebook friend Christy shared this poster bearing words attributed to the late curmudgeon Andy Rooney.

I'm sure they're not universally true, but it certainly does seem some days as if Christians are happy only when celebrating their own assurance of glory or the related assurance that everyone they don't care for is on a fast track to perdition.

So if you're headed for church this morning, try smiling about the fact it's a promising day, we live in a relatively peaceful place, we're alive and kicking and free to go to church, or not, depending upon preference.

One of the reasons we have so many Ukrainian neighbors is because that was not the case in their former homes.

+++

This poster from a Baptist church in New York, proposing to win souls for Jesus by offering an AR-15 rifle as a door prize, was circulating last week, too.

Also in the news was the Kentucky Baptist Convention, which has been sponsoring Second Amendment Celebrations featuring gun giveaways to lure men to Christ (maybe women are eligible, too, but knowing Baptists that seems unlikely).

All of this may or may not be tied to a directive issued last fall by the Family Research Council's Jerry Boyken, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, who proposed during a legislators' conference that when Jesus returns he'll be carrying an AR-15.

“The Lord is a warrior," Boyken said, "and in Revelation 19 it says when he comes back, he’s coming back as what? A warrior. A mighty warrior leading a mighty army, riding a white horse with a blood-stained white robe … I believe that blood on that robe is the blood of his enemies ’cause he’s coming back as a warrior carrying a sword. And I believe now – I’ve checked this out – I believe that sword he’ll be carrying when he comes back is an AR-15.

And the sword today is an AR-15, so if you don’t have one, go get one. You’re supposed to have one. It’s biblical.”

Now I really don't care, beyond reasonable precautions, who has what weapon to hunt or play with, but this seem a trifle extreme --- and another reason why the "unchurched" increasingly believe all Christians are just plain nuts.

1 comment:

Jane Cooley said...

Frank, You make a very good point!