As I was dining with my wife of 34 years, we saw this sign.  As we discussed the message, I began to see that each line had a subtle second meaning.  Seven statements are made here, and on the surface, I could agree with all of them except maybe the last one.  However, this sign means a lot more than it is saying.  Don’t be deceived.

There is no question that “black lives matter.” They matter, but no more and no less than any other lives. This mantra arose from the misjustice experienced by black people around our nation.  Black people should not be discriminated against; they should be treated fairly; they should receive justice.  But is this statement calling for special treatment?  I’m not sure, but I do know that in the USA, all people are created equal and should be treated as such.  On the other hand, the BLM movement is not in favor of all black people.  According to the Black Lives Matter website, this is who they care about:  “We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. Our network centers those who have been marginalized within Black liberation movements.”  They are only interested in certain black lives, not all black lives.

“No human is illegal.”  That is also true.  People are neither legal or illegal.  However, some people commit illegal acts.  The second meaning behind this statement is referencing illegal aliens or immigrants.  This is a subtle support for people illegally entering this country.  Personally, I am not in favor of deporting illegal immigrants; instead, I think we should make it easier for people to enter this country.  There should be consequences for breaking the law, but we need to change the laws to allow people to immigrate to this great nation.

“Love is love.”  Of course it is.  What else could it be?  The subtle message?  This is a support for the LGBTQ community.  The claim is that individuals should be free to express their love for same sex partners the way that heterosexual couples do.  I don’t have an objection to people loving people, but as a Bible believing Christian, I think that sexual intimacy should be between a husband and a wife.  Before you argue, remember that there are many “socially unacceptable” and “politically incorrect” expressions of “sexual love”.  Is it okay for a loving parent to have sex with a child?  Is it okay for a person to have sex with someone forced into prostitution (from the human trafficked sex trade)?  Is it okay for a loving pet owner to have sex with an animal?  The “rules” for sexual expression are governed by laws.  Laws are governed by the “will of the people”.  Same-sex relationships used to be considered wrong in our culture but it has recently changed.  I prefer the older values.  But my question is how far will the change go?  Will a future USA legalize pedophilia, bestiality, human trafficking and prostitution?  We’ll see.

“Women’s rights are human rights.”  Once again, I fully agree with the statement, until you take it to mean that women’s human rights trump the rights of unborn human rights.  If women’s rights are human rights, it stands to reason that man’s rights are human rights and that an unborn human has rights too.  Our culture has a double standard.  We propose that a woman should have the right to kill and remove an unborn baby because it is in her body.  But then we also prevent any human from selling their organs for organ donation. It is legal for a woman to terminate a pregnancy, but it is illegal for her to sell her extra kidney to someone who might die without it.  Isn’t that her body too?  This is a double standard.

“Science is real.”  Implied here is some kind of insinuation that God is not real.  It is not obvious, but it is here.  For honest and objective people, science and the Bible do not disagree.  Science is real, but it doesn’t have all the answers.  In fact, science has more questions than answers.  Science is real, AND God is real.

“Be kind to all” may be a reference to vegetarianism.  “All” probably implies animals in addition to people.  I agree that we should be kind to all people and to all animals.  But it is okay to humanely harvest animals for food.  Remember that hunting is actually necessary to manage wildlife populations.

Injustice can be localized.  Injustice in a far away country does not affect justice here.  I agree with the intent but not the statement.  The intent is that we should be concerned about injustice everywhere, and I agree.  But our concern should not be selfish – I will fight injustice there because I am afraid that it will come here!  Instead, we should care about our “fellowman” and assist where we can.

So, do not believe everything you read.  Think.  Ask questions.  And as it says in Romans 14, “Be convinced in your own mind.”

A Day in the Life of a Pastor

Somebody asked me yesterday, “Do you have a job or are you just a pastor?”  Funny question.  Others tease me saying that I work two hours per week, one on Sunday and one on Wednesday.  What does a pastor do?  Have you ever wondered?  In the ministry, there is no such thing as a typical day.  Days vary and you never know what might happen.  Let me tell you about my day yesterday.

Yesterday started at 5 AM when I got up to take my mother to the airport.  She was here visiting for a week.  While she was here, I “took the week off” for vacation.  I tried not to go the office more than once a day.  Anyway, as a pastor, I also have a personal life, so I took my mom to the airport.  Afterwards, I grabbed breakfast and returned home. I took a quick nap before going into the office.   

By 9:30 AM, I was in the office.  Most office days start with a conversation with my secretary if it is a day that she is in the office.  I “unload” some tasks on her and she brings me up to speed on some things.  Turns out, she is having computer trouble.  I put my “computer tech” hat on and take a look at her computer.  After a quick call to my son who is in the computer business for advice, I fix her computer.  I wasn’t quite done when someone stops by the office to see me.  We discuss a variety of things including current events and a passage of Scripture that he has been studying.  As he is ready to go, another parishioner pops his head in to say hello.  He had come by earlier and was praying here at the church.  He was done but didn’t have time for a long chat because he was on his way to work.  After that, I am reminded that there is still something wrong with the computer.  I finish the last piece.

Alone in my office, I pray and read a variety of Scriptures, contemplating my sermon message for Sunday.  I try to start my sermon, at least choose a text, on Tuesday.  We have been doing a series from Philippians, but there is something else on my heart.  It needs more prayer.  At the same time, I am returning text messages and I think one phone call – I don’t recall. 

My wife dropped by just to tell me that she was on her way to pick up the grandkids.  I must have missed her call or text.

Next, I review the church calendar for next month.  At the same time, I look forward at several months events.

I have lunch plans – someone needs help digging a hole.  It’s an usual request but it is important.  I loaded my shovels (short and long handle) in the pickup before I left for the office this morning.  I run to the local pizza place, get to slices and a Coke, and drive to a friend’s house.  After the hole is dug, I grab an ice cream cone on my way back to the office.  It took longer than a normal lunch. 

Back in the office, I try to get a few more things done before I have to teach karate at 6 PM.  Usually on Tuesdays, I snack before karate and eat dinner afterwards.  I reply to some emails, one resulting in a phone call.  Second phone call.  Running out of time.  I eat a fig bar and rush home to put my karate uniform on.  No one shows up for the 6 o’clock class (first one since the pandemic), so I return to the office and work on something for 30 minutes.  Before 7, I return to the karate room.  Good showing for 7 o’clock class.

Karate ends at 8 PM, and I go back to the office.  First I return a text message about a church appointment next week.  We go back and forth and finally set a date and time.  Next, I check in with a group leader from another church about a group event that we are doing together.  Both of those are done, so I’m headed home after 8:30 PM.

Time to build a fire in the backyard.  The grandkids are here (I finally get to spend some time with them) as well as another guest.  We do smores and hotdogs.  The fire starts to die down, so we pack things up and head into the house.

My wife gets the grandkids settled into bed on the couch and starts to watch a movie with them.  I go downstairs, open up my computer and start working on tomorrow’s Bible study.  I don’t know what interruptions to expect on Wednesday, so I want to get a good start on it tonight.  According to the computer, I started at 9:47 PM and finished at 11:44 PM.  During that time, my wife lets me know that the grandkids are asleep and that she is going to bed.  Before leaving, my wife shares what God had put on her heart to share with the ladies.  It is very similar to the message I am working on for Sunday, but I don’t say anything to her.  God is amazing.

Before going to bed, I like to plank – it’s an exercise.  I plank for two minutes and do a quick 10 pushups and head to bed.  (By the way, I did brush my teeth and pray with my wife.)

Every pastor is different.  Every day is different.  This is not a typical day because there is no such thing as a typical day.  I might have missed something, but you get the idea.

What is your day like?  Whatever it is, love God and love people – serve God and serve people.