Do Not Follow the Crowd

Exodus 23:2

Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,

Growing up in Lothian and later in Seat Pleasant and Annapolis – there were many times when the crowd went one way – and I ended up going the other. I wish I could say – every time – but I can’t. For instance – in Seat Pleasant – when I attended Francis Scott Key Junior High – you were in one group or another – depending on how you dressed. For instance – I ended up in a group called blocks (if I remember correctly). We wore ban Lon shirts – khaki pants – Chuck Taylor tennis shoes (with multi-colored shoe ties – usually two sets per shoe) – socks rolled down over the tops of our shoes – and we usually combed (slicked) our hair back (I used Vitalis). Other groups were hoods (they wore leather jackets and usually smoked) – jocks (wore gym clothes a lot) – collegians (wore colorful – paisley clothes) – and later in Annapolis – there were hippies (long hair and raggedy clothes) and druggies (hippies who did drugs – although some of every other group could be druggies too). I’m sure there were other groups. Social levels inside the school system – determined by how you dressed. If you wanted to be IN with a group – you had to conform to their dress code.

What was it like in your school growing up? Was there peer pressure? I remember as a sophomore – at Annapolis – liking the smartest girl in school (the valedictorian – a senior). I was not the most popular in school – but by the time I hit High School – was less a block and more a jock or even for a season of time – a collegian – wearing colorful ties to school even.

At lunch – we would sit with our crew of friends. Dating the smartest girl in school (a senior) as a sophomore was strange. She didn’t fit in at my table and I didn’t fit in at her table at lunch. We ended up at our own table – and didn’t last very long. But – thinking back on it – we tried to break from the patterns of our crew – tried stepping out on our own – but – the safety of our group drew us back to them and away from each other. Peer pressure can be very strong.

God Has Spoken

Psalm 23:6

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Yesterday morning – I was a bit taken back by the number of Christians – even Pastors – even people from my own congregation – who were so excited and celebrating a Senate runoff the night before. It continued this morning too! One person posted – the people have spoken. Yet – some of these same persons didn’t say the people had spoken when their favorite candidate or political party didn’t win. It seems – when a person’s worldview isn’t supported – it isn’t the voice of the people. When it fits their narrative – than the people have spoken. We need to be better than this – folks!

It reminded me of the 2019 Special General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Leading up to this event – Bishops – clergy – and others were calling for Holy Conferencing. They were calling for the Holy Spirit to descend upon the conference – to fill the delegates. When the vote on the floor didn’t go their way – or fit their worldview or narrative – they denied that the Holy Sprit was present. They began to methodically and deliberately act in ways that went against the results of the Holy Conferencing that had just happened. Therefore – the United Methodist Church is in chaos and schism today. The majority voted one way – and it didn’t fit the worldview of those who opposed it – and instead of yielding to the majority – the minority decided to disobey the law of the church and call it Holy Protest. We need to be better than this – folks!

How Far Is Too Far?

Psalm 11:3

…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

This week – I’m shamed to say – a UMC clergy person gave the opening prayer for congress and besides offering prayers to all sorts of idols and fake gods – closed his prayer with amen and awoman. I couldn’t believe that someone would go that far to fit into the politically correct crowd. I couldn’t believe that someone would be so ignorant of what amen means (uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn – meaning so be it) that they would turn it into a PC statement. How far with the left – the progressives go? Are there no truths for them? Are there no absolutes?

One of my favorite all-time shows is The Andy Griffith show. I grew up watching Andy – Opie – Barney – Aunt Bea and the Mayberry crowd. Times were good and even the unchurched were fairly moral people and they had good values in Mayberry. The setting for this show was the late 50’s and early 60’s – just a few states south of us. I’m not suggesting we could ever return to these times – nor should we strive to for sure – but it was a time when absolutes were accepted – even among the unchurched. Oh – there were things wrong – and they were not perfect – but their preacher would never end a prayer with amen and awoman.

I wish that the troubles Opie had would be the troubles our youth would get into today. Unfortunately – our youth – and our society as a whole – are far beyond the sins of Mayberry (and Mayberry wasn’t perfect for sure). Our communities used to resemble Mayberry’s morals and values. I can remember growing up near here. As a matter of fact – I can remember watching Mayberry as a child – and thinking my world was like this show. How did we get to the place we are today? How have we become so corrupt and sinful as a society (and church at times – watch the news to see my point)? It seems that there are some in our society today that are trying to call sin – acceptable. They are trying to change established truths. I know – much about us needs to change – and over time – much has changed – but I ask – are there no absolutes?

Social Media is a Buzz

As I began my day – after my morning devotions – I began to check the news and my social media feeds. There is no shortage of things people are excited about these days – or that people disagree on as well. Let’s review a few.

The President was impeached by the House of Representatives recently and the case will soon be dropped by the Senate because they will not reach the vote necessary to remove him. People on all sides of the discussion – basically along party lines – continue to debate the facts as they see them in this situation (and as usual – they see the facts differently). Some will continue their fight to take this President down (for some this effort started the moment he declared for President). Some will continue to support this President – even some calling him the best President ever. This impeachment process has been the most partisan act ever – at least regarding something as serious as removing a sitting President of the United States. Wherever you are in the discussion – I would think most would agree this has been a very partisan process. Social media is a buzz.

The Super Bowl was last night – and the Chiefs beat the 49ers. I watched the game and thought it was a pretty good game. This morning – of course – social media was a buzz with those from the 49er’s fan base blaming the officials for calls that turned the tide toward the Chiefs (the TD that wasn’t and the offensive PI that wasn’t as examples). I didn’t agree with all the calls by the officials – but have come to realize that they don’t get it right all the time. On a side note – as a Ravens fan – I wanted the Chiefs to win and for Patrick Mahomes to win the MVP. Next I want him to demand a record contract so the team will not be able to surround him with other players (salary cap issues). See how my mind works? Again – social media is a buzz.

Are There Any Absolutes These Days?

Psalm 11:3

…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

One of my favorite all-time shows is the Andy Griffith show. I grew up watching Andy, Opie, Barney and Aunt Bea. Times were good and even the unchurched were fairly moral people and they had good values in Mayberry. The setting for this show was the late 50’s and early 60’s – just a few states south of us. I’m not suggesting we could ever return to these times – nor should we strive to for sure – but it was a time when absolutes were accepted – even among the unchurched.

I wish that the troubles Opie had would be the troubles our youth would get into today. Unfortunately – our youth – and our society as a whole – are far beyond the sins of Mayberry (and Mayberry wasn’t perfect for sure). Our communities used to resemble Mayberry’s morals and values. I can remember growing up near here. As a matter of fact – I can remember watching Mayberry as a child – and thinking my world was like this show. How did we get to the place we are today? How have we become so corrupt and sinful as a society (watch the news to see my point)? It seems that there are some in our society today that are trying to call sin – acceptable. They are trying to change established truths. I know – much about us needs to change – and over time – much has changed – but I ask – are there no absolutes?