Got back from annual Gulf of Mexico trip Sunday night and have been unable to produce a fresh column. They don’t just drop out of the sky, despite what you’ve been told.
SOOOOO, I’ve picked up parts of several other columns from years ago and offer them here with high hopes.
Old, I remind you. Here they are:
=—-= — =
MY MOST sincere sympathy to members of Nashville’s First Assembly of God. Walking around the church grounds in Friday’s arctic gale, trying to stay out of the firemen’s way, I talked to their children’s minister, George Gibbs. “It’s sad, but it’s just a building,” he agreed to my expression of sympathy.
True, no one was hurt. But I believe most people have a reverence for all houses of worship.
Don’t you whisper when you talk in church?
I was present at that same west Nashville spot in about 1980 for First Assembly’s groundbreaking celebration for that very building, so I feel a special connection.
I remember being out under the trees on that undeveloped peninsula of land that day. And the excited faces around me.
The pastor called upon one of the members to start the event with a prayer. The man he called upon was the late, great Deward Sharp, truly one of our community’s finest citizens ever.
I had not been around my neighbors who attended First Assembly when they worshipped. So it jolted me when Mr. Sharp began his prayer, and the whole congregation enthusiastically caught the spirit and joined in. Do not misunderstand; it was a wonderful experience.
My longtime radio buddy Brent Pinkerton is a deacon at First Assembly, and he mentioned the outpouring of support, sympathy and offers from individuals and other churches, including offers of interim space for worship.
“Nashville is the blueprint for how a community can come together,” Brent said.
It occurs to me that in our town Sunday, two considerably-different Christian congregations shared the experience of worshipping in sites that were not their familiar places to gather.
First Assembly met in the Carter Day Center, and the Dodson Street Church of Christ met in the Green Room of the Nashville City Park.
The circumstances are different — First Assembly had lost its church to disastrous fire, and Dodson Street was tearing down its own building to make way for a new one. One was a tragic surprise; one was joyful anticipation.
One has a mostly Anglo membership; one is traditionally African-American. One has a piano; one likes church music a cappella.
Both congregations make you feel very welcome when you visit.
Now, recall recent times when a disaster struck other churches.
One was a non-fire when the roof caved in at First United Methodist Church. Remember their great old building on Main Street? And the steps where groups posed for pictures.
Sometime since then, Free Christian Zion Church of Christ burned.
Gary Funderburk, who is a member of our Tuesday night printing crew and is a (mostly) retired Nashville VFD member, says he was wearing a new suit when the sanctuary of Ridgeway Baptist Church burned. He was on the roof when it began caving in, and he slid to safety on the seat of his new suit britches.
=—-= — =
Here’s part of another old one:
TO HELL IN A handbasket. I have no idea what that old saying means or where the saying came from, but I’m pretty sure it describes where our nation is going right now.
Some examples:
1. Last week, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resigned. As well she should, even though she’s only been on the job for a few months. Her responsibilities include regulating Big Tobacco. But it was revealed that she bought stock in Big Tobacco since her appointment. That’s immoral and illegal, at least in my book. This is a perfect example of ‘conflict of interest.’
2. A company has announced that it is coming out with a personal flamethrower. In fact, they’ve already sold out the first batch of 2,000. They’re giving away a free fire extinguisher with each purchase. I AM NOT JOKING. How long before some nut deepfries a kindergarten class?
3. I ’m pretty sure I believe the FBI and the CIA and the Department of Justice even though none of them have personal flamethrowers.
4. The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl with a substitute quarterback.
=—-= — =
IMAGINE MY JOY! No, your imagination couldn’t possibly be that fertile. But try, anyway.
One blessed day last week a woman pulled a J-Turn right in front of the ‘Leader’ office. We witnessed.
It was also conveniently right in front of a Nashville police officer who could not ignore this outrageous offense.
The officer flashed his blue lights and may (or may not) have given the driver a ticket. We witnessed.
I can hardly wait for the day when, as our town’s duly deputized Downtown J-Turn Enforcement Czar I will be able to (at gunpoint and splendidly attired in a camo uniform which is appropriate for weather conditions) give a ticket good for one appearance in District Court.
I know that you, also, breathlessly await the day.
We hope to arrange for full press coverage.
=—-= — =
SWEET DREAMS, Baby
