I got up early today to type up the church announcements in Powerpoint to show on the big screen. The guy who normally does this is on vacation. I didn’t mind doing it. I just wish more people would bother to read them. Normally we print out the announcements, show them on the big screen, and then have someone read over all of them during church. It’s all redundant. I’d love to cut out the announcements all together. We have the ability to do additional announcements in Powerpoint right before services.
If there is one thing that our former associate minister, Joey Davis, did well at church, it was the Summer Faith Series. Basically each Wednesday night a fellowship meal is served before church, then a special speaker is brought in to preach a traditional sermon. Before there were some really good speakers from area congregations. Now it seems as if the whole series is thrown together at the last minute with mostly speakers from our own congregation. Its ok to have many of our own members as the special speakers, but it is nothing that would draw in visitors from the outside. We need more speakers from outside congregations.
Then again Summer Faith Series has become as worn out as VBS during the summer months. Seems like all churches of Christ are doing it these days. Maybe this once innovative idea is now just another expected thing.
My state senator Bob Rochelle is thinking about not running for another term. Good riddance if he does. Lately his whole purpose in life is to make sure the government gets more of my tax dollars through his income tax proposal.
Goat has an distinctive #3 marking….Earnhardt fans rejoice….message from beyond the grave.
Author Archives: Jeff Whittle
Baya and Erika’s wedding
Baya and Erika’s wedding went well. Almost all the music played was the Beatles. They managed to work in one Elvis song and a Sade song. But all the rest was Beatles. Best wedding music I’ve heard. Usually wedding music is really sappy songs from Celin Dion and other nondesireables. But this one was different and better.
I was asked to video tape the wedding and reception. Everything seemed to go smoothly. I’ve got about an hour and a half of footage. The best part of the wedding was seeing Baya sing the Beatles at the reception. I never knew Baya could sing. He seemed so reserved and quiet at church.
I thought something was wrong when I heard R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” on the classic radio station. But then I found out the radio station had changed formats to “Rockin Hits,” whatever that means.
I went to camp knowing that I wanted to take pictures of the 4th of July fireworks. Last year I went, I had no thought of taking pictures of fireworks. I just did it on a whim. Last year’s pictures turned out decent, but you could tell I didn’t know what I was doing. This time I really wanted to take pictures of the fireworks. Ultimately the pictures turned out fine.
On the last night of camp, they showed a movie – “Snow Dogs.” During the movie I decided I had enough of it and went back to the cabin to lie down. The movie ended at around 12:30. Tim and I stayed up talking til about 1AM or later. I got up at 6:15 and got back home at around 8AM to get back to work. So the last day or so has been tiring.
Camp Leatherwood
I’m back from Camp Leatherwood in White Bluff, TN. I had a good time. Everyone was very friendly toward me. No regrets. The camp director even asked me to lead a prayer during one of the devotionals. That small request made me feel accepted and part of the group.
Tim was in a cabin with the high school boys. So by default I stayed in the same cabin. Normally I’m intimidated by high school kids….probably because I feel uncool around them. These kids were very friendly and we seemed to hit it off after a while.
Things I Learned at Camp:
- Spongebob Squarepants is a big hit even among high schoolers.
- Biggest disappointment: My digital camera messed up on the 4th of July. So at around midday yesterday I lost about 70 pictures I had taken. I was sorta bummed out about it, but I tried not to let it bother me. Got some great shots of fireworks.
- Some people can be very intelligent, but lack social skills.
I’ve made mental notes of the skits and devotional examples to use later on at other camps.
If you want to see pictures from last year’s camp, go here. Pictures of this year’s camp will be posted as soon as I find some time. (Maybe sooner than you think)
West 7th Church of Christ….Columbia,
West 7th Church of Christ….Columbia, TN. I met a few people from there over the 4th.
Proud to Be An American
or write you a letter.
Now maybe we’ll see
on the Fourth of July…”
—Better Than Ezra “Good”
Special for July 4th….
Why I’m Proud to be an American
After being to other different countries, there is no doubt that America is the brightest beacon of hope in this world. When was the last time you heard anyone say “I hate living in America” ? Never. It just doesn’t happen. Why?
- America is the best in everything. Except for that lame sport of soccer…..and making miniature electronics.
- America is home of unlimited refills. Anybody who knows me, knows that I drink lots of cola when I’m out at restaurants. Foreign countries are so stiff that they won’t even let you get free refills. You have to order another beverage. America is generous with their endless supply of beverages and will gladly refill your empty glass for free.
- America has a working sewer system. Look at India and Pakistan. These two countries were on the brink of nuclear war just a few weeks ago. They don’t even have toilets for everyone. Imagine having to use the bathroom in a hole you just dug. Now they’re trying to get nuclear weapons? Why not try to fix your sewer system first! Pitiful. Even though we have those lame lowflow toilets, at least we have toilets.
No matter how many times we are criticized for not doing enough in the world, or sticking our nose in everyone’s business, everyone knows the world would be a terrible awful place without America. Anytime a foreigner says how much he hates America makes me love this country even more. Why do the terrorists hate America? Pure jealousy. They are jealous of our standard of living that is so much better than theirs.
I’ll be gone on July 4th. No posts unless I find myself near a internet ready computer at the camp I’m at. In the meantime check out my fireworks photos page.
Keep Paying Non-essential state employees to save money
How’s this for stupidity. My dad is a state employee. He’s been told to stay home this week due to the budget crisis. Apparently he’s non-estential. How do non-estential state employees report this absence? As a vacation day. In other words, the state is still paying their salaries this week. They aren’t saving any money by having employees stay home. They are just loosing production. Why would I trust these legislators and governor with my tax money?
Then again I realise this whole “governmental shutdown” stunt is just a PR tactic and doesn’t really mean anything. The governor is just trying to get the general public upset enough about not having services to urge their representatives to pass a budget.
It feels like Independence Day
And I can’t break away from this parade”
–Wallflowers “One Headlight”
Over the 4th I’ll be visiting a friend of mine at a church camp in White Bluff, TN. I went there last year and had a good time, even though I stayed a limited amount of time. It’s always good to see old friends and get to know new people.
I’m sick of the pain
I’m sick of hearing
Again and again
That there’s gonna be
Peace on Earth”
–U2 “Peace on Earth”
For me U2’s “Peace on Earth” has become somewhat of an updated version of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” However since it is as not as well known it’s not yet the worn out clich� that “Imagine” is. Initually when the song first came out in 2000 I thought it was once again one of U2’s idealistic political songs (think “Bullet the Blue Sky” or “Sunday Bloody Sunday”). Yet it has become a foretelling song of frustration forever linked to the world we live in. It probably wouldn’t have meant as much to me if it weren’t for September 11th.
I’m beginning to feel a bit disconnected from the folks in Scottsville. There were only 5 kids from Scottsville at summer camp a few weeks ago….2 of which were visitors from the community and didn’t go to church at Scottsville. This is a sad situation since technically it is Scottsville’s week to host camp. In years past Scottsville had provided a substantial amount of kids. Now however it seems as if summer camp is no longer interesting to some people. I am not sure if it was promoted enough. The Scottsville kids who were there were as always very friendly toward me since they had known me longer. However they themselves do not have internet connections so it is difficult to keep up with them once camp ends. My other friends in Scottsville who didn’t make it to camp this year seem more interested in sowing their wild oats rather than religion, so it is difficult to find a bound there. I just hope everything works out for the best. They are getting a new preacher at Scottsville soon, so maybe that will make for a new start.
On a side note 10 years ago today a friend of mine changed their life for the better. We’ve since gone our separate ways and virtually lost touch. Yet 10 years ago there was a kinship. At that time everything seemed right in this world. What are the circumstances? Well some things in this weblog aren’t public. I’ll just keep it to myself.
Canada Day
Today is Canada Day….the equivalent of America’s July 4th. From visiting Canada a few months ago, here is what I’ve learned.
- Canada is much like the USA, except it is a bit more multicultural. From what I understand Canada is a bit lax on its immigration laws compared to the USA, so that most anybody seeking asylum can get in. At the Toronto airport almost the entire security team was staff by Arabs.
- Canada is rabid about hockey. Here in the south, some of us (including myself) have not watched an entire hockey game from start to finish. Many of us don’t know the rules of hockey. I’m not even sure what a “power play” is.
- While I was in Canada I asked a Canadian coworker of mine if Canadians feel bullied around by the 500 pound gorilla to their south. She said in some instances they do. In Canadian elementary schools, they learn both Canadian and American history. Their history maps don’t stop at the border. They show just about all of North America including the US..
- Many Canadians speak French (it’s their second official language). It is not unusual (at least in Ottawa) to hear both French and English spoken in public.
Newsflash….my sister finally updated her weblog. Posted to it just yesterday.
At some point this weekend I became acutely aware that I’m embarrassed to be a Tennessean. Our state legislators cannot seem to pass a state budget. Some salivate everytime they hear the word “income tax” and are bound and determined to pass one. There is plenty of pork still around in the state expenditures. Plenty of non essential programs that could be cut. Yet the state governmental leaders don’t want to cut their pet projects. It’s all wasteful governmental spending.
Church Directory Preview
Why’d you have to come around, so soon?
I wasn’t ready for all this nature
The terrible green green grass
And violent blooms of flowered dresses
And afternoons that make me sleepy”
I use my digital camera alot during church events. Looks like all those times I harrassed people by taking their pictures has paid off. I got a preview of the new church directory which is set to come out in a month. Just about half of the candid photos were taken by me. So it looks like I did make a contribution to the church directory, no matter how meager.
That 4th grade Wednesday night Bible class I’m supposed to be teaching? Well I probably won’t start helping out until July 10th. I’ll be out of town on July 3th. I am looking forward to it. The guy I’m co-teaching with is a school teacher himself. I figure I can learn his methods and attempt to be able to teach on my own.
Check out www.blogathon.org. Basically it is a fundraising event which webloggers who post on online diaries (like this one) take up pledges. Then during a 24 hour period (July 27 this year), they post entries to their web diary every 30 minutes. After that they collect their pledges for doing this and give it to their favorite charity. I think this is a silly idea. What these people need to do is to get out of the house. No one cares if you post every 30 minutes to your lame web diary. Web diaries are so fickle anyways. How about donating your time to a soup kitchen for the homeless? Picking up trash in your city? Just don’t use passive nerdy recreation as an excuse to sit around and feel better about yourself.
The last post was done at midnight. That was no accident.
Music from Commericals….find out what
Music from Commericals….find out what that song was from that tv commerical you saw.
Weblog Readers
Wow. I didn’t realize how many people read this webpage. I was just talking to a friend of mine. He brought up some obscure reference to something I had posted here. Sooner or later whatever I post here is going to get me in trouble with someone. But I’ve tried to make a point not to post anything that I wouldn’t say in public.
Some interesting news stories I’ve read lately.
Anyways I’ll probably have to apologize if I offended anyone with my recent rants on VBS. I got over it. Hopefully you have too.