Mental Musings

On Sunday, April 24, we sang the Finale from our Good Friday musical. On Monday, April 25, I was finalizing the plans for our Christmas musical. On Tuesday, April 26, I was working on music for the May 22 worship services and meeting with a local music minister to discuss our plans for a Mass Choir event in September 2011 as well as for special events in October 2011, November 2011 and March 2012 making sure not to conflict with Christmas or Easter special services. That is the way it is in the music ministry. While most people are listening to Christmas music, worship pastors are listening to Fourth of July music. While most people are enjoying the Easter egg hunt, worship pastors are looking at new music for next year's Good Friday service. At 12:03 PM this past Sunday, I thought to myself as I shook hands with people leaving our fourth worship service that Sunday, "It is finished." But since I am not Jesus, it really isn't finished. The goal that Christ has put bef...

This week we have had an extra teen at home as our nephew came to visit. We were trying to think of some fun things to do with the three boys (ages ~13, 14 and 15). I asked them what they would like to do and this was their response: N: Nothing especially. A: Play video games. Z: It depends...can I have $20? Later I suggested that we go to tour the Havre de Grace Chocolate factory. This was their response: A: You don't want to get me near chocolate. N: Yeah, we would probably end up in the chocolate vat. Z: Could I get $20 instead? I then suggested going hiking and these was the response: A: Yeah, we could go hiking at Best Buy. N: Yay, Best Buy. Z: Could I go hiking and get $20? While at Best Buy I purchased something for myself and commented that I could have gotten it for free if I had printed out my RewardZone certificates ahead of time. Z said, "Can I have the certificates?" After visiting two Best Buys and four GameStops in the past three days with no money to spend...

I saved up and purchased an iPad 2 as my Christmas present. I went with the wifi only model, because I had researched ahead of time and discovered that I could tether the iPad to my phone to utilize the 3G/4G when I am not where I can get free wifi. I have had it for less than two days and thought I would share which apps I decided were most important for me. My first app was YouVersion's Bible app. After that, my goal was to get it set up so that I could use it as a computer replacement. While there are many free apps out there, I will start with the apps that I chose to purchase. I must have access to my Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. I had already used Documents to Go by Dataviz , so I decided to purchase the Premium Office Suite ($14.94) so that I could also create and edit files for Word, Excel and PowerPoint on my iPad 2. I also needed a way to print documents. The new OS 4.2 allows you to print to select printers which utilize the new ePrint or through Apple...

Does anyone plan to observe Lent this year? Lent is the 46 day period prior to Easter which simbolizes the 40 days Jesus was in the wilderness. Typically Christians have observed this time by giving up some normal activity or habit so they can spend more time focused on Christ. Reply or comment on this and list what you plan to give up. I would also like to hear how you plan to replace that time or habit during Lent. You might want to share whether or not you plan to continue with this practice after Lent or is this something you will do only during Lent.

The Bill is now in the House and Floor debates are scheduled to begin tomorrow. If you can please consider coming to Annapolis tomorrow and Thursday between 9:30 and 10: 00am to stand at the state house steps with tasteful signs defending marriage, and to be seen as a strong show of support for protecting marriage while the legislators walk to session at 10 am. Thanks so much for your continued efforts, your phone calls and your emails are working! Below is the list of Delegates that we need to keep calling and encourage them to vote against the same sex marriage bill. Keep informing your Church about the names to call! District 43—(Baltimore City) Curt Anderson- 410- 841- 3291 curt.anderson@house.state.md.us District 32- (Anne Arundel County) Pamela Beidle – 410-841-3370 pamela.beidle@house.state.md.us District 8-(Baltimore County) Eric Bromwell- 410-841-3766 eric.bromwell@house.state.md.us District 3A- ( Fredrick County) Galen Claggett- 410-841-3436 galen.clagett@house.state.md...

I will be the first to admit that I am far from an environmentalists. I am for more drilling in Alaska, replacement tree harvesting, nuclear power, coal mining, natural gas exploration and even wind, solar and other methods of achieving fuel independence. I am against allowing the blue-toed, frog-bellied, orange-winged sap sucker flea (or whatever current endangered species they have discovered) to force people out of work or even their homes because somebody says they are more important than the human species. But one thing that does bug me is the large am0unts of litter that continues to appear on the sides of roads and highways all across the US. I am guilty of having created some of that litter in the past. As a matter of fact, I used to think nothing of tossing my empty coke bottle on the side of the road. After all, some poor kid would just come along to collect it for the deposit money. But my attitude changed one day with the aid of a peer. After carelessly tossing one of my se...

As the church, we know and understand that we are to be the body of Christ. With Christ as our head and the pastors as His appointed leaders for the body, how then are we to work together in order to accomplish the things that He has called us to do? Many times we find individuals in the church who believe that they should be in charge of certain areas because of their talents, abilities, desires, preferences, etc., regardless of God's direction. And far more members have no desire to do anything whatsoever. That is the reason why very few churches have bodies which function well. Most of them are limping, crippled, handicapped, aging, virus prone, on life-support and possibly even already dead. It is rare to find a vibrant, lively church without some form of malady, illness or self-inflicted wound. We have all heard many biblical references describing how the individual members of the body of Christ are all a part of the family of God. For we have been bought by the blood of Jesus...