What to do when it snows

It is a fact that some of my weekly GEMS, although given a Monday date, are actually written on Saturdays. This is usually done when one of the following two factors is in play: (1) there is nothing heavy on my Saturday schedule, or (2) there will be an unusual demand on my time Monday. Today is one of those Saturdays. In fact, today is like no other Saturday I’ve ever experienced!

Snow — read that as SNOW! — is now more than 30 inches where I live. According to the TV reports, Elkridge registered 30.3 inches at 8:00 AM (highest amount in the state) and since the snow has been continuing to fall to the present time (12:30 PM), it is obviously more than that amount now. Since moving to Maryland in 1989 I have been through several multiple-day snowstorms that measured in the 20 plus inches but never one that topped out over 30 inches. Since my windows are almost totally covered with blown snow (we have been labeled as being in ‘blizzard’ conditions), I’ve looked outside from the front of our condo building and I can barely see the top of my Honda Civic. And we are being told that this is wet, heavy snow — not the dry fluffy snow that’s rather easy to shovel. So I have much for which to look forward when I begin the task of ‘plowing out’ either later today or early tomorrow.

All of the above information is simply groundwork for stating the obvious: there’s really not much that one can do (schedule-wise) when enveloped and surrounded by 30 inches of wet, heavy snow. I can read (which I will do as I have finished Sue Grafton’s latest book and have started Vince Flynn’s recent thriller, Pursuit of Honor); I can watch TV (which I will do if a basketball game catches my fancy); I can sleep (which I plan to do with a nap later this afternoon); I can busy myself with email (which I have already done); or I can EAT — which seems the most enjoyable and the most inviting of all the possibilities open to me. In preparation for this heavenly deluge, Cleo and I both bought “snack” food for the occasion: salted nuts, do-nut holes, chocolate-covered peanuts, honey-buns, etc. — you get the drift! None of that good (?) stuff like celery stalks, apples, oranges, carrots, etc. In a time such as this — one needs “comfort” food; can I help it if my comfort is found in fattening and unhealthy goodies? And when one is “bored” (and being cooped up inside for the better part of 48 hours qualifies) what more natural thing to do than nibble. You know — a bite here, a bite there, bites wherever! Sure, I will later hate what the bites do to me and my ‘boyish’ physique, but during 30 inch snow-storms, I admit that I am an undisciplined connoisseur of junk food!

Oh, there is one more thing I can do on such a day as today; one more possibility that offers itself to me as a part of the day’s opportunities — I could write next week’s GEM! However, I have too much integrity in my writing to lower myself to such an unprofessional journalist level. So — just as soon as I finish the donut I’m working on, I’ll get on with the task of doing something constructive with my time. And the thought that keeps returning to me is wondering what my readers are doing during this storm. Undoubtedly something much more worthwhile than what I am now concluding!

                                       Pastor Jimmy, February 8, 2010

It’s a matter of LAW

They could not be more different –

            He’s male; she’s female.

            He’s African American; she’s Caucasian.

            He’s tall; she’s short.

            He’s thin; she’s – well, “not” thin.

            He’s on TV; she’s on a diet.

            He’s a registered Democrat; she’s a registered Republican.

            He’s for ‘big government‘; she’s for ‘less government’.

            He’s pro-choice; she’s pro life.

            He’s for stem-cell research; she’s opposed to it.

            He supports the gay agenda; she opposes homosexuality on Biblical grounds.

            He travels all over the world; she travels to Giant and the Mall

            He rides in armored limousines; she rides in a Honda.

            He flies in a special 747; she flies coach on Delta and Southwest.

            He lives in a big white house; she lives in a small condo.

            He is the most powerful person in the U.S.A.; she’s the power in her family. (Yes, that’s the truth and her children will testify to it!!)

You would think from all of the preceding that these two persons — my wife and Barack Obama, the President of the United States, would have nothing in common — but you would be wrong! The reason — both received jury summons recently!

You did see that news item, did you not? As reported a week ago in the media President Obama received a summons at his Chicago home for jury duty in Cook County, Illinois, and was requested to show up for duty on Monday, January 25. According to the news item, White House officials told the Illinois folks to “not look for him”. (OK –  they were words similar but phrased a little differently!) It seems that he was “otherwise occupied” (and that is a direct quote.)

Now I have served on juries and most likely many of you have also. The Constitution requires that persons be tried by a jury of their “peers” and thus it is a part of our duty as citizens of this nation to sometimes act as jurors. I have also read all the words on the jury summons that point out the “exemptions” to jury service and I have not been able to find one  that  states,  “You may be exempted from  jury duty  if you are  otherwise  occupied.” After hearing the President in his recent State of the Union address castigate the Supreme Court regarding its recent ruling on campaign financial contributions from corporations, I’m wondering just how much respect he has for our judicial system. Being a lauded Harvard law graduate, he should by now understand the three areas of our government system and how they afford “checks and balances” on each other. But now there’s this jury “thing” and his unwillingness to serve — simply because he has other things to do with his time — as President, no less! Well, lah-dee-dah! So do most of the people who receive jury summons. Of course it could have been simply that the pay is less; I’m not certain exactly how much less — but personally having accepted the court’s daily stipend previously, I’m fairly certain it would be less than his daily compensation from the nation’s taxpayers! So now we wait — at least, I wait to see what next the President will do regarding the law of the land. Aren’t you just sitting on pins and needles?

Oh, and less I forget — Cleo was excused from jury duty because she was 70 years of age (and I hasten to add the all important word to that admission — “BARELY”!! – or, at least, that’s the way I think of her.) 

                                       Pastor Jimmy, February 1, 2010

It’s hard to believe, but…

Because my readers are all known for their intelligence, wisdom, and social awareness, it should come as no surprise to any of you that one of the latest rages in media “songs” (if you have a strong enough stomach to call it that) is the rap hit of General Larry Platt, “Pants on the Ground”, as he performed it during his American Idol tryout! Google it and you will find that there have been millions of hits on various websites concerning this number.

            “Pants on the ground, pants on the ground,

            Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground.

            With the gold in your mouth and your hat turned sideways –

            Your pants hit the ground, hit the ground.

            Call yourself a cool-cat, looking’ like a fool,

            Walkin’ downtown with your pants on the ground.

            Gidum’ up, gidum’ up — hey, get your pants off the ground!”

Just a few days ago while seated in my car waiting for Cleo to emerge from a short shopping stop, I viewed one of the youth about whom Platt was rapping. He was about 17-18 years old, tall, dressed casually, and as he entered the cleaning shop, I actually thought he might lose his pants! They hung so low on his narrow hips that I thought one wrong turn and I would not only be viewing the rest of his under-shorts (for I could already see the design and tell the color) but helping to pick him up after he stumbled over his “pants on the ground”! What I would like to know is simply — what in the world are these guys thinking — that it’s neat to show off your underwear??

As goofy as the above — if you didn’t see the news release — let me bring you up-to-date on an even more extreme idiot action! Following is a January 10 article from AP:

           New York – Hundreds of New Yorkers have been riding the city’s subway trains in their underwear. They stripped down to their undies on Sunday for the ninth annual No Pants Subway Ride. The idea is to act like nothing unusual is going on. Participants met up at six locations throughout the city. They formed groups and dispersed to subway stations to catch trains. Once inside the subway cars, they began calmly removing their pants and folding them up. Most people read magazines or chatted with their companions like any other straphanger. The event started in 2002 with just seven people. It has spread to other cities. The stunt is organized by Improv Everywhere, a group that says its mission is to cause “scenes of chaos and joy in public places.”

“Chaos and joy in public places”? Is that what these nuts want? There are always a lot of strange and/or weird things that happen on the subways in New York (surely you know if you have ever ridden one!) yet this might take the blue ribbon! But what else can we expect in a society that long ago lost its modesty and turned in the direction of “anything goes”? Could nudism on airplanes and unclothed congresspersons be not far away! Ugh!!

                                      Pastor Jimmy, January 25, 2010

A church? Impossible!

If you enter my office on a normal workday when I am there it is highly likely that you will hear in the background the strains of classical music. When I want to “listen” to music I often tune the radio to a Christian station or play a tape/CD of my favorite Christian music. However, if I simply want music in the background (in my office or car) it will nearly always be set on a station that plays classical music. If you were to ask me “why”, I’m not at all certain that I could give you a rational answer. I know that it was not always this way; that my love of, and appreciation for, classical music has been an acquired taste over a number of years; and I’m fully aware that I’m one of what appears to be a diminishing minority of classical music admirers.

However, I’m not writing these words today to simply advise you of my regard for classical music. Rather in recent weeks I have come across a phenomenon that has stroked not only my interest but irked my sensibilities regarding something that I hold very dear. Let me explain –

What do you think of when the word “church” is spoken? Worship, Christ, Christianity (as well as the building with a steeple on the corner of 1^st and Main!) are likely choices. And what do you think of when names such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Handel, etc. are listed? Music, classical, concerts, artists, ‘old’, could be a few of your thoughts. But just how many of us would put together “Beethoven” and “church”? Not that some of his works were composed for, and played in, some churches — but as in The Church of Beethoven?? And that, my friends, is exactly what you will find today in Albuquerque, New Mexico!

This was brought to my attention a short while back by a brief newspaper article that reported this “institution”. Sure enough, after googling I found the website for this ’church’ located in what has become the city known as “Alba-quirky” to many. There a member of the New Mexico Symphony (now deceased), who was not religious at all, decided in 2008 to start a Sunday morning ‘gathering’ where people would come, drink coffee, listen to live classical musical presentations, hear original poetry read, and in all of this realize a ’spiritual’ experience. He started in an abandoned gas station with “donations” for the expenses and as the crowds grew moved to an old warehouse and begin to charge for admission. The Church of Beethoven is now a firmly entrenched part of the Sunday morning landscape of Albuquerque. If you are interested in knowing more about this faux church, check its website at thechurchofbeethoven.com.

People do all sort of things on Sunday morning — from sleeping in to shopping, from playing ball to attending concerts. I have no trouble accepting that reality. What I have trouble with in the scenario I have presented is a group taking a uniquely Christian word, “church”, and applying it to a purely secular situation. “What’s next?”, I’m wondering. Will it be the Church of Rembrandt for art lovers? The Church of Shakespeare for drama admirers? Or even more outrageously, the Church of NASCAR for racing fans or the Church of AI for American Idol fanatics?? Now wouldn’t that be something to have “church’ and “idol” in the same title? Well, in this crazy, perverted, inverted, and mixed-up world in which we live, I suppose we should not be surprised at anything! For the present, I will simply continue to listen with admiration to Beethoven’s music but without any attempt to place his name as a substitute for CHRIST!!

                                      Pastor Jimmy, January 18, 2010

The week that was

Wow! What a week! The seven days just passed were exciting for a lot of different reasons, most of them very subjective to me and probably not worthy of a GEM but I’m going to plunge on anyway. Please indulge me this article –

A week-ago today (Monday, January 4) I stumbled upon the fact that it was my birthday! How did that happen; seems that I just celebrated that a while back — but time does “fly” when you’re having fun! My children remembered (which is always a good sign and a reason for keeping them in the “will”); Pastor Paul and Barb surprised me with cake in the afternoon; and Cleo took me to dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. (She paid for it herself and I have no idea where she came up with the money. Maybe she’s “moonlighting” as a greeter at Walmart!! That would explain those nightly trips to the grocery store while I‘m watching the program, “All You Can Eat Without Gaining A Pound“!!) Tuesday wasn’t quite as good as the previous day primarily because the ACC football champion, Georgia Tech, got blistered by the Big Ten’s Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Ouch! That hurt! On Wednesday, Cleo prepared one of my favorite cakes (carrot) and hosted a cake/ice cream fellowship after choir practice. Thursday was the BIG day of the week when Alabama defeated Texas for the football national championship. (I know, I know. There are plenty of pundits out “there” who say the outcome would have been different had not Texas’ excellent quarterback, Colt McCoy, been hurt early in the game. While agreeing that the game would most likely have been closer than the final 16 point victory, I’m quite content to celebrate Alabama’s 8^th national football championship and let those who wish, mutter their “what if’s”!) Friday was a day off and I relaxed and read David Baldacci’s new thriller, True Blue. (“Large Print” really helps.) The week culminated with a big win for the Dallas Cowboys (for whom I have been rooting since the Leroy Jordon days in the 60’s) over the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore’s surprisingly easy romp over the New England Patriots. Oh, and because it was Sunday, worship was warm with two baptisms and three new members, Bible Study attendance was “up”, and the budget was passed in the evening so checks (meaning ’salaries”!) can be written this week! I say again — what a great week!

Recently I was reminded of a chorus we used to sing when I was a youth entitled, “I’m So Happy”. The words were: “I’m so happy and here’s the reason why – Jesus took my burden all away. Now I’m singing as the days go by – Jesus took my burden all away. Once my heart was heavy with a load of sin; Jesus took the load and gave me peace within. Now I’m singing as the days go by – Jesus took my burden all away.” Without wanting to be irreverent and acknowledging that NOTHING brings happiness like the Savior, I’m substituting, with tongue-in-cheek, the following verse –

             “I’m so happy and here’s the reason why – BAMA won them all this year!

             Now I’m singing as the days go by – BAMA’s best; it’s truly clear!

             Once my heart was heavy as defeats came by;

             BAMA took the ball and made the Longhorns cry!

             Now my heart is singing as the days go by – BAMA is the Champ this   year.

Now that I have that out of my system, maybe next week’s GEM will be more objective!!

                                             Pastor Jimmy, January 11, 2010

2010’s First Major Question

2010 is no longer a distant vision, a small dot on the horizon, a bright rainbow for tomorrow, or even a few hours in the future. It’s here! It’s now! And because of that reality I chose to write this first GEM of this new year as an attempt to answer one of the burning questions of the times. Of course, there are many such questions, each of which begs for my immediate refection and intellectual prowess. For instance — how can we end two wars and achieve peace in the world; how will government mandated health care affect senior citizens; how can our nation keep from going bankrupt if we continue to borrow and spend at our present pace; how can we really stop stupid people from driving and “texting” at the same time; and biggest of all, what can I do to insure an Alabama win over Texas in this week’s football championship game? All such questions, and many others like them, are important and call for my nimble brain and agile fingers to relate answers that will render our society more wholesome, our nation more productive, our streets and highways safer, and the football world as it should be each year (with Alabama at the TOP)! But NO! None of the forgoing is the bold-print issue of this article. But as promised, I chose to tackle it head-on in the following paragraphs.

With apologies to the Bard of Avon and his memorable words in Hamlet, the matter of which I speak is “To be(ard) or not to be(ard), that is the question:  whether ‘tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of those who insist that I shave it off, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them.”  (I could quote more but Shakespeare’s next words, “to die — to sleep…” do not particularly interest me in this debate over the facial hair that now finds its habitat on my face!

It all started so innocently. It snowed and we couldn’t get out. Therefore, why not go a day without shaving? It continued to snow and even church was canceled, so why not a second day without lather on my face? With snow up to two feet in most places and the office being closed the third day, it just made little sense to put the razor to my sensitive skin. In the wee hours of day four of the great December, 2009 blizzard, I gazed at myself in the mirror, as has been my custom for well over the last six decades of my life and I thought to myself, “Why not?” I knew it was not going to be the highlight of Cleo’s day, but after 54 years of clean-shaven marriage I believed it could withstand the shock! On the other hand, would the folks of our church be willing to continue to pay me twice a month if some of them (and there was always the possibility that “some” would, in reality, be a majority!) claimed their Associate Pastor now looked more like a gangster (well, maybe a “lawyer” gangster!) than a ’reverend’? I decided — wisely, I believe — that only time would tell (but in the meantime, I checked with my accountant!)

Well, after two weeks — and the beard/mustache is ’trimmed’ — the jury is still out! Some have asked “why?”; others have been less subtle and said “get that fuzz off your face!” (not in those exact words, but I got their drift). But then there have been those who have said, “good for you; go for it”; and even “it’s becoming”! Cleo, after a week of semi-silence about the subject, yesterday ventured the comment that it’s “cute” and for a guy who has not been called “cute” in at least a quarter of a century (and maybe more!) that sounded like approval to me — or at least, a somewhat longer timeline of marital patience.

So, back to, “to beard or not to beard?” — that being the question, and as of this moment there is NO discernable answer. Will I keep it — or not? If I keep it — for how long? If I were to decide to keep it — how much money will I save by not shaving? (Is that a valid area of consideration for those persons who have had beards for years? OK. Just asking?) And in the long run, will it afford me sanctuary from those seeking me from my “wanted” photo on the walls of the local post office? Stay tuned, folks, because this could turn into a whole series of GEMS this year.

Happy New Year to all.

                                          Pastor Jimmy, January 4, 2010

The best and worst of 2009

Following is a mixture of  “serious” and “tongue-in-cheek”  comments concerning  2009

which, hopefully, will furnish a fitting conclusion to this year’s GEMS.

Best day – every day when I awaken and realize Cleo has not packed and left during the night!

Worst day – when the pain from polymyalgia rheumatica in my right hip was so bad that I had to buy a cane! (Fortunately, I’ve had to use it only a few times!)

Best experience(s) – watching my Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeat Auburn and demolish Florida in the same season!

Worst experience – car “breakdown” on the highway during our weekend celebration of 54 years of marriage!

Best thing others did for me(us) — care and concern during my first ever visit to a hospital as a patient this past spring!

Best thing(s) I did for someone else – some counseling occasions which I hope were helpful.

Worst ‘backward step’ I made – regaining 15 pounds I lost in 2008.

Worst ‘backward step’ anyone else around me made – Ryan Strother leaving Maryland. for “OHIO”! (I’m still dealing with how someone I thought ‘smart’ could do that!!)

Happiest day(s) – “family” holidays when as many of the ‘family circle’ as possible were present.

Saddest day(s) – hearing of the tragic death of Mary Kathryn Abernathy and Nicole Lawrence’s near-death accident!

Most exciting experience – Receiving for BBC a VERY large check from a wonderful person as assistance for Bethel’s VBS!

Least exciting experience – Alabama’s football “flop” in last year’s Sugar Bowl.

Best decision – deciding NOT to retire after 2008!

Best decision in someone else’s life of which I am aware – Jonathan Reeder’s acceptance of Christ, his baptism, and decision to enter Bible School

Most ‘fun’ experience – playing a round of golf in Arkansas and actually not playing too badly (note that the emphasis is on the word “too”!!)

Best improvement to my life – buying a new car (only about two or three years late!)

Best kept 2009 resolution – never preach an “old” sermon at Bethel.

Most stressful experience – as director, preparing for Bethel’s Christmas music (and then NOT getting to sing it)!

Least stressful experience – having enough time to read what I “want” and not what I “must”.

Worst kept 2009 resolution – once again failing to keep up the writing of my autobiographical material.

Well, now you can visualize my year (2009) in these 20 statements. Truthfully, yours may have been more exciting but I doubt any more fulfilling!

And for 2010 – My primary resolutions are to lose that 15 pounds again and  continue the writing of  my autobiographical material for my children; my prayer is that God will allow me to see January 1, 2011; and my hope and desire for my readers is that 2010 will be full of God’s miracles and grace.

                                 Pastor Jimmy, December 28, 2009

The meaning of Christmas is … ?

(I wrote the following ‘article’ thirty years ago. I’ve been reproducing it at Christmas time simply because its message remains pertinent each year.)

“Your instructions,” announces the program’s famous MC, “and worth literally thousands of dollars if our judges deem your answer best, are, ‘In as few words as possible, interpret the meaning of CHRISTMAS!’”

The studio audience ripples with murmurs:  “I could do that”; “Simple”; “Too easy a question”.  Millions across this nation and in other countries as well, also declare, “What kind of question is that?  Anyone could be a winner with such a lucky draw!”

But wait; the young contestant hesitates.  “What answer should I give?” he wonders. “What is it that the judges want to hear, expect me to say?  After all, Christmas is many things to many people!  It’s:

“…..Santa Claus and toys, presents and gifts, Rudolf and Frosty to the children;

“…..colored lights and candles, holly and mistletoe, trees and decorations to the traditionalist;

“…..turkey and dressing and all the trimmings to the lover of culinary delights;

“…..traffic jams, crowded stores and long lines to the shopper;

“…..office parties, holidays and bonuses to the laborer;

“…..family gatherings, children and grandchildren to parents;

“…..drinking, carousing, and another hangover to ones given to the pursuits of the flesh;

“…..money, profits, and prosperity to the worshipper of mammon;

“…..music and special sounds of the season, bright eyes and radiant faces, snowflakes and nippy air, a ’special spirit’ to people everywhere!”

“Your time is up; you must now give your answer to the meaning of CHRISTMAS!” intones the MC.

Somewhere, overlooking all, knowing all, and loving all, the ETERNAL SOVEREIGN of this entire creation wonders, “If only he would say, ‘the meaning of Christmas is Bethlehem, a manger, a Baby, a star, shepherds, wise men, steeples, carols, an attitude of giving, a sense of love, joy, and peace—all because CHRISTMAS IS CHRIST!‘” 

Ah, but does the human race really know? Do we?

                                     Pastor Jimmy, December 21, 2009

The plight of a wounded ‘tiger’

Let’s get right to the point. All of you who feel sorry for Tiger Woods, raise your hands! I don’t see many. Let’s try it again. Anyone who thinks Tiger Woods is getting a ‘raw deal’ by the media, say ‘Amen”. I know my hearing is not as good as it once was, but even admitting such I should be able to hear if someone, anyone, even whispered ‘amen’!

Let’s reprise the story. Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in the world at this time and maybe of all time. He was groomed by his late father who apparently decided on his own that his son would become the “best” ever and that he would be satisfied with nothing less. Now at the age of 33 years it appears that Woods has a better than average chance to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major golf tournament titles and Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA victories. Tying together his winnings in professional golf and endorsement incomes, Forbes magazine recently reported that he is the first sports figure to amass a fortune of over a billion dollars. (That a one followed by NINE zeros!) Five years ago he married Elin Nordegren, a former model from Sweden. In the following years two children have been born to this union, a girl, Sam, now 2, and a son, Charlie, age 10 months. It appears that he had everything — fame, riches, family — but it now is apparent that such wasn’t enough.

Long rumored to be strongly disliked by his golfing peers; accused of an attitude that usually bordered on arrogance; and even though a worldwide sports phenomena, noted for his unwillingness to share details of his personal life with the media — Woods now it is known as, and has been for years, an out-and-out “womanizer”. Young and attractive women are coming out of Tiger’s closet at an amazing speed testifying of their affairs with the famed golfer. Each has her own “story” of a personal relationship with him, from one-night stands to episodes that were months and months in length. One admitted to a long-term affair while his wife was carrying their second child! All of this secret life  began to be disclosed after Wood’s well documented car accident at 2:30 AM a few weeks ago. Pressured by the public’s insatiable desire to know all it can about their heroes and the persistence of a media smelling ’blood’,  Woods this past week finally admitted to marital infidelity. Following this disclosure, the first of Woods’ sponsors (the global consulting firm Accenture PLC) just yesterday severed its relationship with the now tainted golfer. Woods, meanwhile, has declared that he is taking a ’leave of absence’ from professional golf for an undisclosed period of time in the hopes that he can become a “better husband, father, and person”. I sincerely hope he means it; I wish him well.

There should be no joy from any of us in seeing anyone “fall”. The grief, hurt, and influences shattered should give none of us comfort. But what it should do is remind us that fame and fortune do not happy and holy lives make! Too many have thought just the opposite — if I can only gather enough dollars or if I can only win enough popularity, then life promises to be one big “bed of roses“. Can anything be more wrong? We all need to remember that “pride goeth before destruction” and that nothing will please Satan more than to bring a self-centered, lust-driven person to his knees –especially if that person is a Christian. (NOTE: I have no idea of Wood’s spiritual position/condition.) These thoughts and words are directed to anyone who decides to live outside God’s designed parameters for his/her life. Would Woods say now, “It’s worth it”? From my perspective — and I hope from yours as well — I would say, “NO WAY!!”

                                Pastor Jimmy, December 14, 2009

Today’s ‘crashers’; eternity’s ‘no crashers’!

I’ve been truly fascinated by the recent “party crashing” furor at President Obama’s first state dinner. Haven’t you? Surely you know the event of which I refer:

Date? November 24.

Occasion? The first state dinner in the Obama presidency.

Guest of Honor? The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh

Attendees? Only those who were invited; those who had printed invitations.

Uninvited “party-crashers”? Tareq and Michaele Salahi!!!!

Fallout #1  A BIG “black eye” for the Secret Service whose job it is to protect the President and his family. These are the folks who would supposedly “take a bullet” in such protection if the need were to arise. How in the world did uninvited persons get close enough to the President to shake his hand and have their pictures taken with him and other dignitaries?

Fallout #2  Lots and lots of media exposure for the Salahis with most of itcasting a rather negative light on their background and very obvious desire to be seen with the ‘high and mighty’. It now is known that although this occasion may be the ‘cream de la cream’ of their social climbing, it certainly was not their first such caper.

Fallout #3  Congress is now in the ‘loop’ through hearings it held last weekconcerning this entire episode. It’s too early to know whether this is out of real concern over the breach of security for the President, a desire to embarrass the present party in power, or some Washington politicians simply seeking the spotlight while they can!

What is also fascinating in this matter is the insistence of the Salahis that they WERE invited to this ‘shin-dig’ through a personal contact at the Pentagon. However, that person (Michele Jones, a special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates), although acknowledging that there was quite a bit of email correspondence over the matter of ‘invitations’, nevertheless still insists that such were never promised. Now the Salahis are claiming that their lives have been ruined due to all the bad press they have received. My soul – folks, ONLY in the U.S.!!

Well, there is a “dinner” coming that will overshadow all such earthly occasions. It’s called “the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9 NIV) and the Person it will honor is the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be the biggest, the best, and the most important of all royal occasions. The meal will take place in Heaven and those attending will be ALL who trusted and followed Jesus during their earthly lifetimes. But the best thing is that even now, TODAY, the invitations to this magnificent dinner at the end of time are still being issued for the Lord’s Word says, “Whosoever  will may come!” There will be no mix-ups and no ‘party-crashers’ but it promises to be a highlight of eternity! Hallelujah and amen!!

                                 Pastor Jimmy, December 7, 2009