Today is different. Got a new religion! And I want to make everybody jump through hoops.
It is such great exercise, though, isnât it? That, and jumping to conclusions is how I try to stay fit. I suppose it must have some entertainment value for others.
Seriously, though, perhaps wrestling back and forth even if just on the intellectual level plows up some ground for when the Spirit does move. And hopefully it ends up having been a fruitful cultivation and preparation toward such a time.
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You knew that these Church Bulletin Bloopers would make their way here sometime-https://pastors.com/44-funny-church-bulletin-bloopers-to-make-you-smile/
40.The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.
41.Ushers will eat latecomers.
42.Tuesday at 4PM there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.
43.Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
44.Potluck supper: prayer and medication to follow.
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So much for praying for help on math tests.
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I like to tell my students that their prayers are even more effective if given while they are still studying.
p.s. Often students will volunteer to pray before a class or an exam. One student once (notably) prayed that the exams they were about to take would accurately show what they had learned. [and she wasnât a student who always got 'Aâs!] It was such an unusual thing to hear a student pray for that it sticks out in my memory.
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Wow, great humility in that student. Thanks for that âexam-ple.â
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She should go far. What more could one ask for than accurate feedback if one is looking to understand a subject correctly?
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Weâve been discussing vestigial organs lately.
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Those who listened to the excellent video of âFrancis Collins Speaking on Genetic Engineering and Christian Faithâ just few threads over may have been a bit frustrated that the video doesnât show us the same visual aids that the live audience got to see. Well, here is at least one of those visuals â more appropriate for this thread rather than that one! Enjoy.
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From the Babylon Bee:
Bwahahahaha!
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Now that is unbelievable!
Have you ever noticed that for some reason people donât want to change their religion? (Imagine that!) A couple of young missionaries, who arrogantly describe themselves as ârepresentatives of Jesus Christ,â find out the hard way that they are no match for this dude who has a way with words! Listen carefully, as this can be hard to understand.
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You might want to try this millennial missionary blurb by John Crist 
So to clarify, my parents were actually the most serving and generous people I met in my life; and many millennials are too, I think. We frequently depended on church food pantries when on furlough (but Dad worked when he could back here). Butâthis brought a smile to my face and I shared it with the missions committee at my church.
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Iâm looking forward to watching this as soon as I can.
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I should have called it âThe Battle of the Cultsâ
LOL! I LOVE John Crist. You know, what I really donât like is the relatively new phenomenon of the âyouth mission trip,â which is basically VBS for teenagers. They spend a truckload of money on airfare so teenagers can gawk at poor people, take selfies, and maybe haphazardly hammer together a few outhouses. (And, of course, go sightseeing.) And then they put on a show for the church. How entertaining! It would be better to hire the locals to do any construction (locals are often desperate for work) and then spend the money on hardworking professional missionaries such as your parents, letting them come home more often to recharge their batteries.
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Good point. Steve Saint (son of Nate Saint, who was killed by the Aucas) has a hard hitting missions film series on that. He grew up with the Aucas and tells it from their perspective. He also interviews Native Americans and Africansâvery much in favor of the gospel, but as one African pastor says, âthose teens come for 2 weeks to save us. God, save us from the teen missionaries,â or something like that. It actually inoculates us against the gospel when we think we can go to others who are spiritually richer than we are and spend the money on ourselves. Our missions committee watched Steve Saintâs videos togetherâvery convicting. Thanks.
I have a ton to learn, still. I think I was hitching a ride on the backs of many Nigerien and other giants by being out there as a child and teen. I have a lot to learn from the nationals and the missionaries.
I remember one child who had cerebral malaria and never was the same after that. Another died of meningitis at about 4. (actually, Dr Jane Philpottâs daughter-current minister of health in Canada). I admire Dr Philpott and the others significantly.Health Minister Jane Philpott knows the sacrifices of public service - The Globe and Mail
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I like John Crist too. I only found out about him recently.
Having said what I said about short term missionaries, they are the faltering steps of us Americans and developed country folks trying to step outside our comfort zones. The trip itself can be damaging to both us and the nationals we âserve.â However, maybe we can learn, too, from our mistakes. Itâs easy to insulate ourselves by staying here, too, and saying âlet them eat cakeâ by applying our standards to others.
You are probably more aware of the great need overseas than many; and Iâve been guilty of spending money here that should have gone overseas to the poor. But without being overseas, how do we really realize the need? Difficult one.
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There are certainly short term trips done poorly and kids on well-done trips who are too immature to benefit from them. But the exposure to global needs and cross-cultural issues that short term mission trips can provide when they are done well often impact people for life, even though they are often a hassle for local missionaries and may only be marginally beneficial to locals.
Some of the people most invested in our âcareerâ missionary work are motivated in their generosity because of their experience on short-term trips. And many of the people I work with who are career missionaries would point back to short term trips as young people as what opened the door and put them on the path to a life-long commitment. These trips can serve a purpose in the funding/sending system we have created, for better or worse. And honestly, the friends and relatives who pay for their airfare arenât going to send that $50 they donated to help pay locals in Malawi to build a well in any scenario. They are going to spend it on things they donât need like a few more lattes at Starbucks or some new throw pillows they saw on sale.
I always encourage young people to consider doing an internship with a missionary instead of a short-term trip though. Itâs a more realistic taste of missions work and it helps avoid some of the more obvious negatives of short term youth group trips. Speaking of which, if anyone knows a young person with basic video production or video editing skills, social media savvy, or aptitude for app building who wants to come hang out with us in southern Mexico for a month or so, have them get in touch with me. 
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