Have you ever considered the possibilities of possibilities? For instance, what new ideas would we dream of if we dared to imagine as many different possibilities as we could? How would our church services be different if we didn’t stick to talking about what we know, but talked about as many different possibilities as we could barf up?

or suppose with me, the endless possibilities that would come with a very large, industrial paper cutter? like, you could cut five brochures at a time instead of two, or you could…yeah–endless possibilities.

So, as you can see. This is a very deep doctrine.

 Little boy sitting on the sandy beach
with outstreched hands for someone to reach.
People walk by, but nobody sees
that little face begging them please!

His hunger burns, his eyes they tear…
how desperately he wishes for someone to hold him near.
He needs their warmth – he needs their love.
He needs someone to rescue him from this life so tough!

Little boy sitting on the beach with a runny nose.
He chews his nails while the cold wind blows.
As he watches the sun go down,
He feels so sad – he’s been left alone.

As the night gets darker, a icy breeze blows away his tears.
It would take a storm to blow away his fears!
bundled together he lays on the ground.
The waves are still – one can hear no sound.

As the morning sun rises on the opposite side of the sea, a fisherman finds a lifeless body -
death has turned the key.
His eyes show one more expression except the frozen stare -
They question: Why did no one comfort me?
Why did no one care?

Michaela Elizabeth Von seydlitz, Namibia

You Are Stupid

 
            We’re all human. Humans make mistakes. Individuals simply are not smart enough, or wise enough, or whatever enough to avoid error. Some people, however, make more mistakes than others. Some people, then, are more stupid than others. Certain groups of people are regarded as more ignorant (stupid) others.

            Generally the people with less experience are more stupid about that thing with which they do not have experience. If Person A has never ridden a bike, he is more stupid than Person B, who has ridden a bike for fifteen years. Likewise if Person A has dated more often than Person B, Person A is the relationally wise. In a church context, experience is often directly proportionate to age. Therefore the older people are less stupid than the younger people.

            There are various ways in which this principle is applied to church life. Church members are given responsibility based on their age. A twenty year old may well be elected song leader, but never pastor. Another way this principle works itself out is in decision making. When decisions are based on a strictly democratic vote, all have equal sway. More often, decisions are based largely on input from various members on a weighted scale. A preacher, for instance, will weigh in more strongly than a lay member. On a pastoral team, the weight of an executive pastor is greater than that of an associate pastor. Normally the executive pastor is older. Counsel from aged lay members is more significant than advice from youthful lay members.

            In each church, some people are considered more stupid than others. Whenever a person’s advice is not taken seriously, he may rightfully judge that the recipients believe him to be fairly stupid. If a person’s counsel is acted upon, he may assume that those who take action regard him as fairly wise. Young people should take heart. Someday they will no more be grouped in the ‘more stupid’ category. They will either be thought wise, or dead.

Walking down the sidewalk look to the right

Think of all that is and think of all that might.

Shades of gray and bursts of yellow

Shades of gray and hints of pink

Steady dripping of the ink.

I am black and blue and crimson.