Mental Musings

I hate dealing with medical insurance companies. Back when we lived in Florida, when our boys were much younger, I had to call the insurance company to find out why they would not approve their meds. Our boys were both very active and without these meds they were what we referred to as OOC (out of control). The person I was speaking to was explaining that they were evaluating their need for the meds. I finally got so frustrated with this person that I told her that I was going to bring my two boys to her office and leave them with her until she approved their meds. She laughed and said, “Well, sir, our office is in Texas.” I said, “I. Don’t. Care.” The prescriptions got approved that day. At Elevate Church we practice what is called covenant membership. Part of that covenant is that we will evaluate where we are each year. To have an annual checkup. And what better time to do that than at the beginning of a New Year. We have been meeting as a church since A...

We have so many laws in the U.S. that we often forget that some absurd things are still on the books. Just north of us in Pennsylvania, there is a law that requires you to stop every mile when driving through a rural part of the state so that you can send up a rocket signal. And if you happen to see a team of skittish horses coming near to the area where your car is located, you must hide your entire car inside of a bush. In Orlando, Florida, parking meters require the same fee for elephants as for cars. Did anyone eat a piece of candy before church today? If so, it is a good thing we are not in Salem, West Virginia, where it is illegal to eat candy an hour and a half before church. In Hartford, Connecticut, it is illegal to educate your dog. No obedience school for fluffy. And in Michigan, women must get their husbands permission before altering their hairstyle. We have some crazy laws here in Maryland as well. For example, it is still illegal to wear sleeveless t...

There are several things about the Christmas story that are not based on the Bible, but rather on traditions. For example, Jesus wasn’t actually born on December 25 th . I mean, I guess it is possible that He was, since nobody knows the actual day he was born. And those manger scenes depicting the magi…they most likely didn’t even visit Jesus during the same year as His birth. We are uncertain exactly when it took place, but based on biblical evidence we can guess that it was about 2 years later. Mary and Joseph apparently remained in Bethlehem for several years, but now had moved into a house. 1   After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, 2   saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3   When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4   So he assembled all th...