“Everybody is looking for the next wave. We went from cathedrals to churches with pews and vaulted ceilings to the Willow Creek model — the theater seats and big screens and big production — and for me, the biggest movement right now is the intimacy issue,” said Snider. “How do we do ‘big’ small? If we have to get 500 people in a space, how do we get it to not feel like 500 people?” – Greg Snider

Why is everyone looking for the next wave?  Are the unchangeable precepts of God as transient as a wave?  Do the eternal Scriptures need to surf the changing need of culture?  Have the need of man’s soul changed in the last 6,000 years?  Then why are we perpetually striving to be relevant?

I firmly believe that true Christianity is always outside the box of culture and that Heavenly ideas are always difficult for the unregenerate to comprehend. Our shameless need for acceptance from the world reveals our whormongering nature and backslidden condition.

Jude 1:13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Now, I am not against renting buildings.  Our church rents, and many others do also.  Because of the evil nature of the movie industry, I might have difficulty renting a theatre.  But it is the need to be culurally neutral, the urge to blend and homogenize that irritates and vexes my soul.

Christian, don’t ride the wave.  Anchor to the Rock, and let the waves break as they may.

There will always be another wave…

There is only one Rock.

It is important for men to remember that as women grow older it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping they did when they were younger. When men notice this, they should try not to yell. Let me relate how I handle the situation.

When I sold the ranch and took an early retirement a year ago, it became necessary for Lorraine to get a full-time job both for extra income and for Health Insurance Benefits that we need. She was fortunate to land a job with First Nations at Island Lake.

It was shortly after she started working at this job that I noticed that she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from drinking coffee or curling about the same time she gets home from work. Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says that she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts supper. I try not to yell at her when this happens. Instead, I tell her to take her time. I understand that she is not as young as she used to be. I just tell her to wake me when she finally does get supper on the table.

She used to wash and dry the dishes as soon as we finished eating. It is now not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after supper. I do what I can by reminding her several times each evening that they aren’t cleaning themselves. I know she appreciates this, as it does seem to help her get them done before she goes to bed.

Our washer and dryer are in the basement. When she was younger, Lorraine used to be able to go up and down the stairs all day and not get tired. Now that she is older she seems to get tired so much more quickly. Sometimes she says she just can’t make another trip down those steps. I don’t make a big issue of this. As long as she finishes up the laundry the next evening I am willing to overlook it.

Not only that, but unless I need something ironed to wear to the Monday Victims Service meeting or to Wednesday’s or Saturday’s coffee shop or to Tuesday’s or Thursday’s curling or something like that, I will tell her to wait until the next evening to do the ironing. This gives her a little more time to do some of those odds and ends like shampooing the dog, vacuuming or dusting. Also, if I have had a really good day fishing, this allows her to gut and scale the fish at a more leisurely pace.

Lorraine is starting to complain a little occasionally. Not often mind you, but just enough for me to notice. For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. In spite of her complaining, I continue to try to offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days. That way she won’t have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn’t hurt her any, if you know what I mean.

When doing simple jobs she seems to think she needs more rest periods than she used to have to take. A couple of weeks ago she said she had to take a break when she was only half finished mowing the yard.

I overlook comments like these because I realize it’s just age talking. In fact, I try to not embarrass her when she needs these little extra rest breaks. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while. I tell her that as long as she is making one for herself, she may as well make one for me and take her break by the hammock so she can talk with me until I fall asleep.

I could go on and on, but I think you know where I’m coming from.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Lorraine on a daily basis. I’m not saying that the ability to show this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible. No one knows better than I do how frustrating women can become as they get older. My purpose in writing this is simply to suggest that you make the effort. I realize that achieving the exemplary level of showing consideration I have attained is out of reach for the average man. However guys, even if you just yell at your wife a little less often because of this article, I consider that writing it was worthwhile.

Jim Torgersen - 1996

If this is not symptomatic of our carnal idolatry of sports?  In this article, cricket fans in India plan to make a temple to their favorite player. “Cricket is religion in our country and Dhoni is god of cricket,” his fan club president Jitendra Singh told reporters. This is appalling, but scarcely surprising.  The world has been idolizing sport for decades, and Christians have fallen into the same trap.  Have we forgotten 1 Timothy 4:8-12

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Christian, I enjoy playing sports as much as the next person.  We Canadians have a fixation on hockey that rivals the US addiction to football.  But Christians are called to a greater cause, and missing church to watch overweight men in spandex fight for a pigskin smacks of spiritual adultery.  Skipping church for sport/pleasure/visiting company/fill-in-the-blank defines rather clearly what our priorities are, doesn’t it?

And yes, feel free to point this out to me when the Stanly Cup finals are on.