TGIF
The local Christian radio station recently ran a “Day of Prayer”.
People could call in or email their prayer requests to the station and then on the day of prayer some local folks and pastors would pray over them.
The aftermath left all involved stunned according to their own testimony.
They had no idea of the depth of the trials and pain people were experiencing in ourĀ community.
The “church” did not know…
There is a Facebook page set up by some folks who monitor the police and fire scanners for our area and they post the calls as they come in.
Spending two hours on that page would convince you that I’m living in a war zone on the edge of hell, not idyllic Southern Oregon.
The police monitor that page for tips in solving the crimes that are posted.
I don’t think any pastors do.
I’ve watched the calls come in… the wrecks, the fights, the burglaries…one attempted suicide after another.
Some attempts are successful.
They don’t make the news.
The “church” doesn’t know.
A call for prayer requests leaves a radio station flooded with cries for help.
The “church” didn’t know.
“In-N-Out” Burger is coming to Medford.
All the churches know about that…
Make your own application…
Just take a look at Oden Fong’s facebook feed – he posts prayer requests he receives from fellow saints everywhere. These are often heart-breaking, dire situations. This world needs the Lord to come and set up His Kingdom in Zion!
Perhaps what the world needs more than anything presently is for the ambassadors of the coming kingdom to act as if it’s already here….
For years I’ve rejected the notion that The Kingdom is anything other than present because The King is inescapably present and we’re His subjects. Our greatest challenge is to assure ourselves and others that Jesus hears these prayers and allows us to eavesdrop so that we can grow hearts of compassion and act with immediacy, with the efficiency of an “In-N-Out”
š
“You want fries with that hug?”
Churches know about all the problems involving the members of their own congregations. It’s unreasonable to expect them to know about all the crimes and problems in an entire geographic area. You are a pastor yourself…. do you listen to the police scanner?
I actually do have a police scanner which I do listen to regularly. There’s an element of rubber-necking involved for sure but there’s been several times when the call is for a baby who is not breathing and I pray “Lord, save this baby” and then I immediately hear “It’s ok, the baby is breathing now.” When there’s a “DBF” (dead body found) I pray for the soul of the departed and I have prayed for the safety of scared women calling the cops from a locked bedroom when they hear an intruder in their house. I have prayed for gang members dying from gun shot wounds. You don’t have to be a pastor to do this.
If you can’t afford a police scanner, you can probably access your local police scanner online.
But that’s not what I want to talk about. Why the continual anti-pastor, anti-church nonsense that is often the topic of the day here? When Christians and Christianity are being attacked all over the world I think its time to stick together instead of continually harping on how rotten churches and pastors are. We don’t need Muslims and liberal extremist to tear us down we can do that without any of their help.
Why the snark about the In and Out Burger? Do you really seriously think, Michael, that the pastors in your area care more about hamburgers than they do about the people in their parishes/ churches/ community?
Xenia,
With all due respect, I wrote this at the request of a couple local pastors.
I just didn’t know how to do it for a while.
It’s not that we don’t care…it’s that we get very insular and don’t realize what’s going on around us.
I had no idea myself.
I am not anti pastor or anti church…not in the least.
My belief is that we need to have a much more organic presence in the communities we live in…at least here.
I’m with Xenia – our church and staff are pretty in tune to the needs -at least within our church body and in our school families (which are 2/3rds not members of our church.)
Since Jan 1 we have had 4 deaths in our church family and we have 2 office staff members in the hospital. A whole list of sick etc including extended families are read and prayed for each week in our church and a mid week email blast is sent out to add additions.
I would assume our next door neighbors the Baptists do the same and i am sure our big brother up the street Saddleback Church does so as well.
But perhaps it’s because we have all the In n Outs we can handle down here so our attention has turned back to God.
Michael,
Your article rocks.
I love how you are always looking for connections and sharing your inspiration.
Well done (not unlike my In-N-Out burger)!
But Michael, haven’t you told us that your church is invitation only?
Why are you lecturing the rest of us who attend churches that are open to all comers about being more organically present in a community?
But as I said, if you want to keep tabs on local crime- stuff you won’t read in the local paper- get a police scanner. You can hear all about the wife beatings and bike thefts and shop lifting and public urinations and pray for these lost souls with all fervency . However, I doubt if you can do much else for them unless they come to you or you know them personally.
Xenia,
I don’t think being organically present means that anyone can come to your place of worship.
It means we’re leaving the place of worship and being present in the community where people live.
You can only put so many people in a living room…
Thanks, G!
While aware of the things going on in the world around us, the truth is that a pastor (no human for that matter) is not built to carry the weight of the world. Only Jesus has shoulders that big. As Xenia pointed out, I am aware of the pain, the needs, and the joy in the church I serve and those are the ones that the Lord entrusts to me. Pain is everywhere; I can only impact the pain that visits my sphere. I pray about the rest. I think that is what we are supposed to do.
Let’s take this to a practical level.
Say I am a pastor and I have decided to listen to the police scanner (or whatever other means I might employ to keep tabs on community troubles). I hear that on Green Street a man with a Spanish last name is beating his wife and the cops are called out. What should I do? I can pray, that’s a given. But what else? Should I get in my car and drive over to Green Street to offer spiritual assistance? [Do I speak Spanish?] Chances are good that my assistance will not be welcome. If I was a pastor I would invite all and sundry to come to church Sunday but then I attend a “Y’all come” type of church. I would put these people’s names on a prayer list. I might look to see if there’s a shelter in town (probably run by a church) that helps battered women. What else can I do? I don’t think wringing my hands that the local pastors are oblivious to what happened on Green Street is going to do one whit of good unless you all get together and form some kind of ministry for abused women. And one for shop lifters. And one for weed sellers. And one for public urinaters. Actually, the BEST thing you can do is to invite people to church and let God take if from there.
Hang in there Michael, tough room
Xenia,
I’m sorry that this article offends you.
As I said, I wrote it after speaking with pastors who readily acknowledged that most of us in ministry in this valley were unaware of the depth of problems the community is facing.
Before we can offer potential solutions to these problems we have to acknowledge they exist.
Many of these folks aren’t going to show up on Sunday morning…we have to go to them.
As pastors, we have to make our people aware…because at the end of the day, they will be the ones delivering ministry in their circle of influence.
If anyone think that something I write doesn’t apply to them or their church…God bless them.
Some of the rest of us needed to hear this.
Tough room indeed. Are you guys this anal about everything in your life?
G,
I’m good.
I was struggling with the blog and my book…getting too old for conflict.
I changed my computers desktop picture to a woodcut portrait of Charles Bowden…an old, tired, Bowden who kept at his post despite critics and apathy right to the end.
Every day I answer to him and Jesus…keeps me going.
Now, if both would help me write, I’d appreciate it… š
Ok, some practical ideas for the peeps of parishes/ churches that want to be more organically involved in their community. This works for everyone, not just pastors.
1. Walk around your town and get to know the shopkeepers and street people by name.
2. Do most of your shopping and other appointments in your town.
3. Don’t avoid the bad section of town when shopping or walking (if it’s safe to do so.)
4. Join the myriad of ministries already in place such as Meals on Wheels, the food bank, etc. and etc. Teach a Mexican how to speak English. Teach a six-year old how to read. Opportunities abound!
5. If you are so inclined, attend city council meetings. Know the issues. Talk with the local police.
6. Get to know the neighbors of your parish church. Be a good neighbor, not an irritant. Be a giver to your church’s neighborhood, not a taker.
^^^ These are some time-honored ways to be involved in one’s community on the street level.
A very good example is when Michael takes supplies (water, first aid) to the skate park.
Xenia,
I love that list…and the other “local” stuff you’ve written with a passion.
I’ll amen it.
Staying engaged is vital, otherwise stupid solutions to non existing problems happen and the morale of everyone involved is poisoned
Exactly….. exactly….. Another symptom of superficial church culture, out of touch with day to day real life. Lord help us all.
My pastor seems to always be at the hospital. I visit the jail, when allowed. We both frequent funeral homes. I feel like we probably have a pretty good grasp of the depths of what is going on in our community, yet I’m sure I don’t do enough in response. (My pastor, on the other hand, doesn’t have enough hours in the day.)
I guess I sympathize both with the idea behind Michael’s article and the push-back that MLD and Xenia have given. I have good intentions to right every wrong, but I fail more often than not.
There is a new generation of pastors who just do not want to get their hands dirty. It’s not that they don’t know what’s going on, it’s that they don’t care enough to respond. They don’t feel “called” to that kind of stuff, and who can blame them? It’s physically hard and emotionally draining to care about people.
Josh,
I don’t think the burden for the type of ministry needed falls directly on pastors…except their responsibility to inform and equip people to engage where they are.
I hear you about that “new generation” as well…
I think the pastor should desire to be a part of that. Now, many churches sit bcak and expect the pastor to do everything, which is wrong, and the new generation where the pastor does none of that…which is also wrong. I guess it is just the principle of leading by example. If you expect your members to be out there doing the Lord’s work, they will be more likely if you are right there by their side. My opinion.
Josh,
I agree.
All you Kingdom-Now adherents thinking you can run the world without the King – I got news for you. You’re doing a crappy job of it. When Jesus rules from the Throne of David in Jerusalem – they’ll be no terrorists, no unsolved murders, no street crime, and even the animal kingdom will live in harmony,. Let’s see you do that! Until you can, you better keep on praying “THY Kingdom Come.”
WHo was that a shot at?
I do not agree with this post about our community in Southern Oregon.
Gross over generalities.
If it’s bad now, imagine how it might look with the effect of the salt and light.
This post is a gross over generalization.
If bad now, imagine what things might be like without the salt and light of the Kingdom here in Southern Oregon.
Cheap shot.
Spoken by someone who’s been in town for a week after being gone for eight years and whose church is well known for not participating with other churches.
It is a generalization…but one that a number of local pastors have come to see over the last few weeks.
Nowhere did I say we’re doing nothing or not doing any good…I’m saying we all need to have a more community minded outreach.
This was brought to me by some pastors who see it…and want to change it.
Spoken by someone who knows Southern Oregon as well as anyone you will ever meet.
…I called Mayor Wheeler four days ago and left a message. I’ve yet to hear from him.
This was a brief partnership š
This was not a cheap shot.
This was a wake up call for me and all of us in ministry…I doubt that it is unique to Southern Oregon.
It was a cheap shot. And mischaracterized our community.
Josh,
LOL! š
Neo,
You can take it as you will but a number of us have had some big wake up calls in the last few weeks.
Your mileage may vary…
Intercessor,
You might want to rethink this.
Are you saying, in the animal kingdom, that carnivores will immediately become herbivores?
Neo, I would think that this article could be true of churches in any American locale. It would certainly be poignant for churches here in North Carolina.
The whole tone of the article intimated that pastors are more interested in hamburgers than people. I simply reject that entire notion.
Intercessor ,
If you read St Peter in Acts 2 you will see that he clearly states that Jesus is already sitting on and ruling from David’s throne.
How did you miss that?
Xenia,
That’s not what I was saying.
It seems odd to me that a lot of the things that are going on in this community are unknown to most of us.
The biggest story in town however, is the soon to be coming of In-N-Out Burger…the excitement is palpable.
I’m excited, for that matter.
There’s nothing wrong with that…but it seems to me that we should be as aware of the darkness around us.
I’m going to repeat this one more time…I didn’t just wake up this morning and decide to piss off my readers.
This is something that a lot of good people in the church are talking about…and wondering what to do about.
Michael, this is one if the best things you’ve ever written on here in my NSHO.
When we first started our little non profit effort, I was shocked to find out how desperately poor our state was.
We had no clue. We, honestly, thought it would be near impossible to find even 20 kids in need near us.
I understand the emotion you are trying to convey here.
People who say their church has it all completely under control and have their own congregations “covered” are just as clueless as everyone else about what goes on in the hearts and minds of people in their own neighborhoods.
Don’t be swayed in getting your message across by those who think they got this while mess called life all figured out.
London,
Thank you…
I really needed that at this point.
My comment would be that any pastor who is clueless about the many trials, sufferings, hurts and challenges (whatever the cause or type) in his own congregation needs to step down immediately. He may not know every last one willing to be shared, but he sure better have a prayer list that is quite long.
So that being said, any pastor properly so engaged with the congregation, who yet is too stupid (I think of no other word) to make the connection that those problems, along with even greater ones, must be prevalent in his church’s town amongst those he does not know about….needs to find another line of work.
In fact, I cringe in horror at the thought of some of what might be happening behind close doors in my community, that I don’t know about. And find myself often throwing out very broad prayers of covering for protection over such evils.
The biggest story in town however, is the soon to be coming of In-N-Out Burgerā¦the excitement is palpable.
————————————————————
(and in a likely lame attempt at humor)…I guess your town is mostly Oregon St football fans, and not the Ducks. š
I would guess that most people walk around with blinders on, for the most part. It’s just too much sometimes.
Good article Michael. It is convicting to me, but that is not a bad thing.
Steve,
According to the station owner (who is as connected as anyone in the valley) he was stunned at the outpouring as were the people that came out to pray over the requests.
He’s still trying to get his head around the whole thing and trying to figure out how to make more of a positive impact.
This isn’t a fault finding mission…it’s about asking some really tough questions.
I think I know how this happens to a degree.
The skateparks have gotten really tough here of late.
There’s more bad stuff going on with more “bad kids”.
There are rarely any other adults present and the cops just don’t have time to police them.
So…I’ve been slowly withdrawing from them and trying to keep my own kid isolated from the darkness.
Last week two young men were arrested for a very violent crime.
Had not the victim escaped to a degree the crime would have been heinous beyond description…their plans were purely evil.
I recognized the mugshots instantly as kids who hung out at one park…the crimes occurred less than two blocks away.
I wonder if…like I have done…we withdraw from the darkness and pretend it can’t touch us if we do…instead of confronting the darkness with the Gospel.
We stay where we believe we’re safe…and try not to hear the noises outside the door.
I don’t have good answers, but I feel like we have to ask the questions…
I wonder if I could have made a difference.
Thanks, Josh…thanks for hearing me.
I will leave contrarian mode for a while and ask some questions that are not meant to be… well, contrarian.
Michael, now that the pastors of your area have awoken to the fact that there is a whole lot more misery and evil in your valley than you ever imagined, what plans do you all have to help correct this problem?
I suspect that most of the people who called the radio station either do not attend a church or are not comfortable with their church or they would have taken their problems to their own pastor/ elders/ teachers for prayer and maybe help. I suspect that a large number of the people who called in might be unchurched. They are also anonymous. How do you hope to reach them in their homes, etc? Again, this is not snark on my part, I am truly interested.
Jesus, being committed to making an indelible impression on His first followers, didn’t demand that they immediately stop doing, but He did coach by example & parable.
Our friend Michael is doing both, patiently revealing challenging truth while imitating Jesus and bidding us, his readers, to slow down, see, process, then act with fresh eyes.
Michael, again, you have a pastor’s heart. Well done.
I’m in the amen corner with London and Josh.
Neo, I would ask someone like Michael (offline) why he thinks you would be so angered by his post.
Gman, thank you.
I honestly didn’t believe this was going to be controversial…
MLD – Keep reading – the next chapter Acts 3:19-21 — He sits on the throne in heaven until the time of restoration when He will then sit on His throne in Jerusalem. He rules in our hearts – not in the unbeliever’s heart – He will come back with His saints who will rule and reign together with Christ on the restored earth, ie “the time of restoration.” Get your head out of your theology books and read THE Book!
Xenia,
Right now…meaning today…we’re still trying to figure all of that out, both individually and corporately.
I do know we are having a community wide, all churches, gathering next week and this is going to be part of the discussion.
There are no easy answers, but the first step toward any answer at all is recognition of the problems.
That’s what this article was all about…
Jim,
Thank you…
Intercessor,
While you read the book(s), refer back to Jesus, your read will be more contextual. Carnivores don’t become herbivores. Apocalyptic language is metaphorical and not definitive. The figure is of Jesus continuing His present reign, one He clearly established during his pre ascension presence. If Jesus is not present King and we His present ambassadors and agents of redemption then you’re missing out on the glory of His Kingdom
Intercessor,
I don’t want to take up the space here on Michael’s thread – but
1.) the verse does not say what you say it does.
2.) You made the claim to Jesus sitting on David’s throne in Jerusalem and now you have backed it off to sitting”on his own throne.”
3.) if you think the ‘restoration of all thinks is the millennium then why is there a need for a new heaven and a new earth
but like I said, let’s not hog up this thread.
You can always email me at mld1517 at yahoo dot com
It’s not “controversial”, amigo.
You end up looking like the good guy and everyone else is excited about burgers.
Lol. Even if it’s true it’s not cool.
Drawing attention to injustice is always cool.
Setting yourself up as the good guy and then the cheap shot at the end….meh.
Michael,
I chalk it up to it being the 2nd Friday of an unfolding year of blessing & outpouring
Rule Number 7 On Blogging:
Never make yourself the superhero. š
I’m done ranting. This is not even a big deal. In and Out is a big deal here.
The Kingdom of God destroying Babylon needs to be an even bigger deal.
Now, where’s my ham radio…
Neo,
As I’ve stated in more than one comment today, I’m as guilty as any of not understanding the depth of the need here.
Nowhere in the article do I mention myself…I would think it would be assumed that I am part of the church.
Blog articles are platforms from which to jump into deeper conversations about a topic… which at least in that regard, I was successful at today.
You chose to take it it another direction and make a personal attack…which also happens on blogs.
That’s part of the price we pay to speak.
I’m out for the day…
Michael @ 2
I take your comment:
“Perhaps what the world needs more than anything presently is for the ambassadors of the coming kingdom to act as if itās already hereā¦.” as meaning:
As Christians, it is all to common to offer our prayers–not that we shouldn’t. However, much of the time, if Christians would also their hands and feet, the calls being heard and the prayer requests being submitted would be more along the lines of praise reports. These calls and request are indicative of how the church body is not addressing the needs of their own community. Worldwide, it only tells us that it is not one particular church body, but rather that it is so much easier to offer a prayer, than to put ourselves out to go that extra mile and to give from that which we have to share with another, be it our time, money, or other resources. “to the least of these” and “you have done unto Me.”
If this is what you are saying—-Spot On.
I don’t know why it is that Pastors and the rest of the body tend to live in this bubble and then take affront when this is so obvious.
Michael, keep us posted on what you all decide to do and the implementation.
I am a problem-solver kind of person. Someone presents a problem and my mind produces a dozen possible solutions, some good, many terrible. I’m not one for meetings and talking and blogging, I am more of a “Look, here’s a problem, what can we try, let’s hop to it” kinda person. This personality trait can be very irritating and I apologize.
Grab a burger on your way out…
Xenia,
While disagreements may not be pleasant, they do offer the chance for clarity.
I appreciate the fact that you and others demand clarity when I write even if you may disagree with my conclusion.
I’ve taken in so much info over the last couple of weeks I don’t know where to start…but as these things are clarified and possible solutions are brought forth, I’ll report them here.
There’s nothing wrong with being a “fixer”, my friend…
Gotta run…
haha… you are the hero of the article. That’s fine. Just own it.
You scan police blotters. No other pastors in the area do.
Our community is Watts Northewest. We are more concerned with hamburgers.
Put it all together: not your best. That’s fine. It won’t keep me up tonight.
But thinking about IN and OUT will .
I gave up In n Out when I found out they were the official food chain for Calvary Chapel š If you don’t think so, wait until the SPC and read everyone’s FB page.
Actually, I don’t like them and think they are over rated … but they do have those bible verses on the cup bottoms.
Read an article the other day that said that over the last two years the most people from California have relocated to Oregon.
(Then in prior years.)
Oden was a Huntington Beach CA chaplain for awhile.
He knows what this thread is about more than most.
Police chaplain in HB
“if Christians would also extend their hands and feet”
One other thought:
It seems to me that there is this belief that we put far too much emphasis upon prayer as a means to help another person when in reality God wants us to use us to provide the concrete needs He has provided us already to do so.
For instance, when a person is in need of food or monetary assistance, we send then to the welfare department, thinking that they are qualify and that they will receive what they need. However, in reality they, unless they have a child are probably not qualified, unless their total monthly income is below, at minimum $260, and their vehicle is worth less than $2500.00, and have not other assets. So, if they do qualify, then we gripe because they do get benefits, thus stigmatizing them, thus washing our hands of any sense of compassion and having to step in to extend ourselves personally.
We in essence as Christians are told by scripture to do otherwise, but we instead offer our prayers up and say what a state our community and the world is in, but then do little other than to pray–expecting God to do something, while handing this off for others to do, then look back and to say to ourselves and the world “God bless, be well.”
Yet, our prayers are to ask God to provide/resolve these issues, totally ignoring that it is through each Christian, individually and as a community that God uses to do just this.
I have 2 questions
1.) Neo – KAPL 1300am – do you own it? The family, the Church – Applegate? It just dawned on me KAPL like Applegate?
2.) Michael – is this the local radio station that ran the prayer request? Surely Medford doesn’t have 2 Christian radio stations does it?
Neo,
“Never make yourself the superhero.”
…um, have you recently read the posts on an obscure somethingorotherbabylon blog
by a guy fresh from an area called “Dana Point”?
š
I wonder what CostcoCal would say?
Neo,
Michael’s role in the story is a member of the church.
You’re an arrogant, privileged, thin skinned young man, while claiming to be the opposite.
Own it.
@ 75, 76
well said, gentlemen.
Neo,
What is your issue with Michael? You invite him on your radio program, and then essentially take issue with his blog. Was that discussion pre-arranged or was that an abuse?
For goodness sake, it has been all about you since you left CBC!
Neo reminds me of the person who is ever so preaching grace, yet fails to have compassion upon those who are experiencing a variety of problems, be it in the church community, the church leadership, or in the community at large, due to his own experience of being treated so well and having a protective bubble about him that has enabled him to always have something to fall back on. In essence, he declares:
I don’t see any problems from where I am sitting–so why is it a problem with you?
Neo is an old timer here – he has earned his obnoxious spurs. š
As an public school educator in a poor, rural Southern Oregon town, I can attest to the miseries experienced by many families whose children I teach. The radio host of whom Michael spoke has cozied up to the upper-middle class Christian school district where all children from Christian families should go…no wonder he’s shocked at the revelation. He’d also be shocked at what those Christian school families are enduring if they had the voice or platform to share honestly. (Maybe they did during his prayer day.) Further, our cafĆ© is in the downtown area of town which has experienced a revitalization on the front side, but the backside alleys are teeming with homeless, addicts, mentally ill, and criminals. It isn’t hard to see if one is willing to notice. Our law enforcement and politicians are requesting information and suggestions…I have yet to entertain a minister’s inquiries.
Neo and Michael are big boys & can dish and take with the best of ’em. No need to pile on.
Being an old timer here would be about compassion.
I just spent five days in OC. Sitting in SNA awaiting my flight out to Idaho. Passed by several In-n-out burgers in favor of Volcano Burger in Los Alamitos, one of the many Greek-owned burger joints that specialize in char-grilled burgers. In-n-out is very good, but there a lot of good burger places.
As to the blog piece, I thought it was just fine.
Watch Anthony Bourdain Extoll the Virtues of In-N-Out Burger
http://www.eater.com/2015/1/8/7518215/watch-anthony-bourdain-extoll-the-virtues-of-in-n-out-burger
Peter John Courson is back in Southern Oregon? For reals?
Scott. It’s not going to shake the world. š
I like G’s #82…
I believe all you lovers of In and Out are infected with group think.
I have been to three different locations in SoCal and the experience is the same:
1. Long wait.
2. Drippy greasy burgers on a small Wonder Bread style bun.
3. Wilted skinny fries made from frozen potatoes, over salted.
4. Worse than McDonalds machine mixed shakes.
5. All sereved in a messy, cold, loud and steril environment.
6. But on the good side, the order takers were friendlier than Starbucks.
No I drive on when that yearning in my gut for food arises.
Another 1985 experience to be avoided (as I type from my iPad)
š
Oh Bob…….. poor Bob……..
If you pay attention when you go to In-N-Out you can actually watch them slice the FRESH potatoes they serve.
Also, their customer service is so good you can return anything and no questions asked they will replace it; even if you ate half of the burger or fries.
As I am within a quarter mile of one of their locations where our daughter worked I have been there often and have always had a positive experience. These days though I rarely patronize them as I seem to have an issue with carbs!
May your next Big Mac be more satisfying than anything you’ve ever eaten!! š
“Perhaps what the world needs more than anything presently is for the ambassadors of the coming kingdom to act as if itās already hereā¦.”
Perhaps you’re right.
“Also, their customer service is so good you can return anything and no questions asked they will replace it; even if you ate half of the burger or fries.”
Of course this could mean we could have a “never ending” pile of food!
The best fries out there are done by “Five Guys,” fresh cut and cooked in peanut oil.
But, next time I’m near an ‘In and Out’ I might try that never ending basket of food thing. Hey maybe it’s a bit like feeding the five or four thousand? OK maybe not.
Keep smiling!
MLD.
KAPL is the radio station of Applegate Christian Fellowship here in the Rogue Valley.
Bob, I must admit if I was able I would eat fries daily. I don’t care for real thick fries at all. But everything else is fair game. You keep smiling as well!!
Every church is a slice of the society that was described in this post.
The juxtaposition of a church that knows a burger stand is coming but does not know about the pain in the city is … I am sorry… not true and caricatures the reality of daily church life and work.
I sat out this conversation and probably should not postscript it.
We know and we are in our slice of it every day.
As for the marketing success of In n Out kudos to them.
No church knows nor should carry the weight of city and frankly it doesn’t usually make news when the church shows up.
The skateparks have gotten really tough here of late.
Thereās more bad stuff going on with more ābad kidsā.
There are rarely any other adults present and the cops just donāt have time to police them.
Soā¦Iāve been slowly withdrawing from them and trying to keep my own kid isolated from the darkness.
Last week two young men were arrested for a very violent crime.
Had not the victim escaped to a degree the crime would have been heinous beyond descriptionā¦their plans were purely evil.
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I was banned and called a quack for warning about this!
Sept 27 2013
Well it wonāt mean much to most, but I was raised in Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, and Pacific Beach. I have in-laws who have been flown around the world (Europeā¦) by Nike and others for their āskate parkā skills, and I know the culture.
Meth is on the menu.
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Michael somehow took it personally and MLD said I was a quack.