Jamie Greening's Blog, page 25
July 8, 2020
Love The Story, But I Just Don’t Know If A Ford Probe Can Do That Kind Of Damage?
My old friends and I are at it again.
What is “it” you ask? No, not spending our weekends mummifying neighborhood cats. We’re saving that if things get real bad. What we are doing is writing you free stories.
Previously, we’ve shared free COVID-19 related stories. That is now over (although, I hear rumors of a book coming later) but we want to keep sharing stories with you. They are un-themed and unrelated. Our brave leader, Joseph Courtemanche takes the first slot with a tragic tale of music, strong drink, and regret. It is really about crime and punishment. In fact, this is the story Dostoevksy wanted to write!
We will run these free stories every Wednesday. I am scheduled in two weeks (July 22) and all the usual suspects are playing along — Courtemanche, Shaw, Elkins, Cely, Kexel, and Bennett.
Click on the picture of the Ford Probe to read “Mulroney’s Mariachis”.
[image error] The Probe really was one of the ugliest sports cars ever.
July 6, 2020
Theme Song?
I worked a little this morning on the last Elijah sermon (in three weeks) and a few other housekeeping things, but for the most part me and the rest of our church staff are taking today off as our Independence Day break. Therefore, I have the time to [FINALLY] write that blog which has been in my head for about a week.
With July 1, we crossed over the halfway point of the year 2020. It has been some humdinger of a year. We are all praying for a better second half — for COVID-19 to be tamed, the economy to turn around, peaceful elections in November, and for the Seattle Mariners to win the World Series. But . . . we aren’t yet to that happy ending. So, my question is, which song do you think best describes 2020 so far? Which is your theme song?
I have given you ten to choose from various genres.
Remember, you have to click the big VOTE button at the bottom for it to count.
Take Our Poll
July 4, 2020
Happy 244th Birthday!
A couple of years ago I made this list of things I love about my nation — the United States of America — and it is all still true. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe celebration of Independence Day. Maybe make your own list. I’d love to see it.
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I love that we have three co-equal branches of government.I love that criticizing leadership, elected officials, and policies we disagree with is an act of patriotism. America was born in rebellion!I love Election Nights. I’ll take Super Tuesday results over a Super Bowl any day.I love the Bill of Rights and the fundamental freedoms–religion, speech, press, assembly, personal protection, and trial by jury.I love that we can amend our Constitution to correct wrongs, like slavery.I love all of those Lincoln/Kennedy comparisons.I love that spot in Michigan where I can look south and be looking at Canada.I love that the French helped us beat the Brits, and then we repaid the favor by kicking the Nazi’s out of France.I love the ideals of our Founding Fathers–equality, opportunity, fairness under the law, and liberty.I love that we chose English as our language, because English is so messed up and thus is more fun to play with.I love that Texas history is pretty much American history.I love the Southwest–desert, cactus, dry, and beautiful.I love Puget Sound.I love the sugar white beaches of Destin.I love the unique characteristic of each region of the nation, that New Yorkers and Idahoans share the same love of country and national destiny, but not the same culture.I love how we are an amalgamation of so many different peoples–Germans, French, Mexican, Irish, Iranian, Native American, Polynesian, and so many other rich heritages that add to this unique experience of being American.I love the classic movies of Hollywood–Casablanca, Red River, North by Northwest, Bullitt, and Mars Attacks.I love Hamburgers with mustard, onions, tomatoes and French fries doused in ketchup washed down with a cherry Coke.I love American cars and blue jeans.I love the American Flag. It has an intrinsic beauty beyond the sum of its parts.I love baseball at the diamond on a hot day.Speaking of baseball, I love that our national anthem is practically unsingable–because who wants an easy national anthem!
July 1, 2020
Under The What?
I’ve got something to share with you I am really excited about.
Back in March when the first round of COVID-19 happened, we stopped having in-person worship services. One of the tools we used to substitute (there really is no substitute for congregational worship, but doing nothing really is not an option) was a podcast feel in which we talked about the material I was planning on preaching. Some of this was on Daniel and some of it was from encounters people had with Jesus.
Those were fun, but they were, intentionally, built like a group sermon experience with no real surprises and not conversational. But what we discovered was we had the technical ability to do it.
That planted in our mind an idea: our small groups are all, for the most part, in a kind of limbo right now — what can we do?
What we decided to do was develop a podcast with me and our pastoral staff talking about Biblical material as you would a small group. The more we planned, the more we decided this was just a good idea all around to supplement our teaching ministry and to provide something that might substitute (again, there is no substitute for real life small groups) during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
We have recorded and published two episodes and will record one weekly for the foreseeable future. We call it UNDER THE WATER TOWER because our church building is right underneath a city water tower. We even have bumper music! How cool is that?
I hope you enjoy it. Click on our artwork below (thanks John Trapane for building it) to listen.
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June 22, 2020
Its A Free Story — About Freedom!
Joseph Courtemanche started us off with the very first COVID Chronicle about a hundred years ago (actually, it was only three months ago, but it feels like a hundred years) with disease, death, and ABBA. CLICK HERE to read that inaugural story again, or, read it again for the first time? It is only appropriate that he finish us up with another great read. I am always impressed with how efficient Joseph is with getting the short story out there. He doesn’t need a lot of time or words because his prose is tight.
It has been a real honor to write with all my colleagues here. Paul Bennett makes me want to take a walk in the woods. Kathy Kexel inspires me to consider the sweetness in life. Derek Elkins brings a sense of fun and joy to the story. Rob Cely is a reflective thinker who takes us deep into our own soul. Joe Shaw is destined for celebrity because he speaks with mighty plots. and here we have Courtemanche, the wordsmith.
We’ve written these stories for your enjoyment. No fee, no charge, no paywall, no newsletter signup, no gimmicks. You can find the links all here by scrolling down my blog or at their own individual blog pages. Do visit them, and buy their books — Rob, Derek, Paul, Joe, Joseph, and I all have books for sale at Amazon and whether or not our children eat dinner next week depends on how many books you buy. So, there is that.
Click on the chainsaw to read What About The Window.
[image error] Click on the Husqvarna label. If you click the tree, you’ll wake up in Minnesota in January. Courtemanche tells me that is awful.
The Light Is Free, Even Though It Is Costly
Today in the penultimate COVID Chronicle Derek Elkins goes full on Derek Elkins with a great three-scene story about light in a dark world. His story reminds me of the famous MLK quote — “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Click on King’s picture to read “Light and Darkness”
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June 17, 2020
Free Sermon
I’m feeling a theme for this week’s COVID Chronicles. It is our last week, and the theme is theology. Trust me, no one coordinated this because we’re not that smart. But that is what has happened — Kathy on Monday, Shaw yesterday, and then today Rob Cely does it again.
Click on the garden hose to read his story, “The Last Sermon of Daniel Ramone”.
[image error] After you read the story, you’ll see how dark this image choice was. You’re welcome.
June 16, 2020
A Free Translation
This story . . . oh my. I just don’t have the words to do it justice. Joe Shaw is a treasure we know about and the rest of the world will some day recognize as such. Today’s COVID Chronicle is a parable we need today. We. Us. All of us.
Click on the Codex Vaticanus to read Joe’s story, “New Translation.” You might want to pray before you begin.
[image error] It dates to the fourth century A.D. So it is nearly as old as Joe Shaw himself.
June 15, 2020
The Ache In The Knee Pounds The Heart Of Thee
Kathy Kexel goes for the prophetic jugular in today’s COVID Chronicle, “Summer Storm.” I’m not gonna tell you how it ends, but “Don’t Go In The Basement” comes to mind.
Click on the shirt hanging from the clothes line to read her story.
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June 12, 2020
The Warm Fuzzies You’ll Get Reading This Are Completely Free
Last week Paul Bennett hooked us, and this week he reels us in. I have to admit, there was a ‘plot twist’ here I didn’t see coming, so that was good.
Click on the baby bottle to read, “As It Is In Heaven: Part 2.” If you missed the first installment, CLICK HERE to read, “As It Is In Heaven: Part 1.”
[image error] Click on the bottle to read the story, but not the nipple. If you click the nipple a baby will show up on your doorstep.
