1. Listening to “Spotify”,
I’ve been going back to the weekly Billboard charts, beginning in 1955, and selecting
the unrecognized songs out of the top five. Right now, I’m in the year 1961.
What strikes me is how many songs of that era lasted between 2 to 2 ½ minutes.
2. Good post that I’ve
been seeing passed around is entitled, “Top 10 Reasons Our Kinds Leave Church.”
It is written, I suppose, by an evangelical (judging by his content.) I believe
many of his observations are spot on. Having said that, I warn against running
too far into his direction of “catechesis.” I give him the benefit of the doubt
when it comes to balance; however, let the reader beware. Having grown up in
the era with the kind of youth groups that he holds up—one that exclusively emphasizes
substance, doctrine, teaching, and discipline—I can assure you young people
will REALLY leave in droves when they grow up. Balance is the key.
Here
is what else I think: the breakdown of the family is the biggest contributing
factor to young people growing up and leaving the church.
Postmodernism
challenges us, but some philosophies and worldviews have always challenged the church. Ditto temptations to sin.
The
variable that is different now is the disintegrated family. People who grow up
in broken homes NEVER get over it. They may cope with it, but it will give them
pain until they take it to their grave.
I’m
not saying people who divorce cannot go to heaven. I will even say that
sometimes a Christian needs to divorce—it is the better of two bad choices.
(See God when he chose to divorce Israel.) However, the better of two bad
choices does not mean that those involved escape pain-free.
I
predict that future worship services will be much more predictable and much less
spontaneous. Not because the Bible says so, but because more and more of these
adults who grew up in broken homes will crave structure. To them, it will be
spiritually liberating to have at least one place each week they can count on
receiving what they expect. The other “bedrock” areas of their lives will have
been too unpredictable.
Here
is a link to the post: http://marc5solas.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/top-10-reasons-our-kids-leave-church/
3. I saw that the
Pope announced he was stepping down. Good for him, and I know that took
courage.
4. Warning! If you
think you are going to receive $1600 for a one ounce gold necklace, you have
another dollar amount coming. I sold my old, gold necklace the other day. I
figured, “Why not—prices will not get much higher and I’ll use the cash for my
new workplace chaplaincy service.” Wrong—there are many factors involved with
selling gold. Write me and I’ll explain.
5. I cannot even
predict who will win the Oscars this week. I have not seen enough movies. I
just wish ABC would stream the telecast online or even on a delayed basis.
*Thanks to Peter King for
the inspiration for this title.
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