Haven’t blogged in a while
Author: teejtc / Category: ReligiousI haven’t blogged in a while. Why? It’s November.
What does November have to do with it? That’s simple…November, in Michigan, is the start of the dark season. For the next 8 months (give or take!) the sun will cease regularly shining on the south western portion of Michigan. I say that only a little bit tongue in cheek. When January rolls around the sun may not shine at all. My first year in Michigan, I remember vividly that the weather man proudly proclaimed 33 minutes of sunshine the entire month…33 minutes! No Kidding!
Having said that, good things are happening around here. Our little congregation (about 110 worshippers) has 33 people signed up for the Rice Revolution and a number of people unofficially participating “on the side.” God is so good. Although I’m only on my first day of eating (only) rice, I am starting to understand how much I’ve been blessed. God is so good. (Can we say that enough?!)
Thanksgiving is just around the corner; Advent shortly thereafter; Christmas; Epiphany….God is so good.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
8 Responses to “Haven’t blogged in a while”
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November 14th, 2005 at 7:40 pm
God is good!
November 14th, 2005 at 9:54 pm
Tim,
Do you notice yourself getting extra cranky on sunny days in November? We had one last week and I was so sad because I knew that it wouldn’t last. I think it’s residual fear of dark days thanks to my early years in Michigan and my more formative days in Rochester. I just assume that winter means depression.
When I first moved to NYC I thought I had experienced the tropics, but I suppose it still hasn’t quite sunken in.
November 14th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
NYC = Tropics?! I guess I knew that St. Thomas Reformed (USVI) belonged to one of thos Classes out there…hmmm….
JJ and I spent a summer down there right after we were married. I used to write the pastor down there every year and suggest it was time for him to move.
You’re right though. Even when it is sunny (as rare as that is) sometimes it only makes me more aware of how sunny it hasn’t been. Go figure!
Grace and Peace,
`tim
November 17th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
The “Rice Revolution” sounds like a worthy cause. Still, I’m struck by your “God is so good” comment. Good to whom? To you maybe. But what about the 850 million malnourished people on this planet? God isn’t so good to them, is he? At least not as good as he is to the rest of us. Does god play favorites? How could he? And why?
November 18th, 2005 at 1:24 am
Your weather forecaster was so proud of 33 minutes of sun because it was 29 minutes more than Albany, NY got! And the sun was shining on Rochester, but the snow banks were to high for anybody to see it.:lol:
Just remember that, without all this darkness, it would be harder for us to appreciate Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Also remember that, for all its physical sunshine, June is when the General Synod meets.
November 18th, 2005 at 10:07 am
Scout…
Does God play favorites? Good question - seems like it. In the OT the Israelites were clearly “favorites” in the NT those suffering from injustice, poverty, etc were clearly “favorites.” Whether he’s good to some of us more than others I don’t know - but I do know that when we’re called to make account of ourselves most of us in the 1st world are going to end up looking pretty selfish, rude, proud, unjust and unhelpful.
“Good” and “bad” (as we’re describing it here) is in the eye of the beholder (I’m NOT suggesting that there aren’t absolute truths.) As with many situations in the Bible, judging God’s actions as “good” or “bad” depends on which side of a particular action you’re on!
Right now we judge our situation as “good.” I have no doubt in my mind that a time will come for most of us, when we will be sorry we’ve had it so “good” and thos who have it so “bad” will truly be blessed.
Is God good? Yep…I stick with that one.
Do I understand it? Nope…that I’ll admit is well beyond me.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
November 18th, 2005 at 10:08 am
James….
So I suppose what you’re suggesting is that GS be held in January in Holland, MI…the scheduling version of typecasting?!
Grace and Peace,
`tim
November 18th, 2005 at 11:33 pm
No . . . I was just commenting on the darkness vs. light contradictions inherent in the timing of both Christmas and GS. Typecasting, therefore, would be Nome in January (someplace really dark).
But I’d ignore typecasting and force the GS to return annually to Fordham University (where it was nearly roasted alive in the ’80s), to give us all an annual preview of where our denominational behavior should take us.