Reretaken Down

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CasketRomance
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by CasketRomance »

TenPoundHammer wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:39 am I know we have a few church people here. Any of you ever walked out on a sermon? I have. And that's bad when you're the organist.

This is a bit long and complicated, so strap in.

One of the churches I play for is an American Baptist church in town. I've been there since 2010. At the time, they had a pastor named Rob who was honestly one of the nicest men I've ever met in my life. Friendly, funny, loving, able to deliver a meaningful sermon, and overall probably the best pastor I've ever witnessed in all my years of organ playing. However, he had a couple of health issues, including neuropathy and low blood pressure, and announced that he would be retiring in June 2019. However, some internal church drama that I was not privy to ended up turning that into "now". So throughout the fall and winter, we rotated among a few different supply pastors. By Christmas, we'd narrowed it down to two: a Romanian immigrant named Clau, and another guy named Mike who had just moved from downstate. Mike was decent, but he seemed a bit fawning at times and had a voice like Kermit the Frog. I really liked Clau, though: interesting backstory, witty, well-educated, friendly, and contemporary. Mike even got baptized and officially joined the church. For a while, we were going back and forth between the two, and I thought all was well.

However, around March, the "pulpit committee" announced that they felt that they had been turning the new-pastor search into too much of a competition by pitting the "final two" against each other. They also said that they would reassess the qualities they were looking for in a replacement pastor. The monthly church newsletter had a letter from Mike, who said that he was declined because his educational background was not in the ministry, but that he would stick with his decision to attend. I don't know if this means that Clau is out of the running too or not. However, right after this, I noticed that a few members had left, including one of the two music leaders and his wife, who would lead the prayers. The remaining music leader said that she didn't want to go into any details as to why they had left, but that arrangements were being made to try and get them back. Their granddaughter works with me at McDonald's, and she told me that apparently, he left because he had shown support for Mike in a church meeting and the other people in the meeting weren't taking him seriously.

After a couple more guests, the pulpit committee decided that Ron, who had been a guest pastor a few times before, would be the interim pastor until the next permanent pastor was found. And truth be told... I don't like Ron. At least not as a pastor, temporary or otherwise. He's a decent person, but his sermons are incredibly bad. He is constantly repeating himself; going off on odd irrelevant tangents that have no bearing on the sermon; misreading his notes; reciting old marriage jokes that even Reader's Digest would've called hackneyed in the 1960s; et cetera. He just spent the last 3 weeks preaching on the book of Ruth, and thanks to his slipshod preaching style, I STILL don't know what the book of Ruth is about. However, I do know that he has apparently never heard of the book of Esther, he really wants a fishing boat, he once almost made an exchange student lick dog poop off her hand, and he once had a senior moment that almost led to him pouring milk in the washing machine instead of fabric softener.

But worst of all is when he gets political. I don't think that politics should stay entirely out of the pulpit entirely, mainly because in the modern zeitgeist, it's pretty hard not to get political now and then. But back in March, he was preaching on the story of Moses, and he brought up an abortion bill in Virginia that would apparently change the terms of late-term abortion. He claimed that this meant that they were trying to legalize infanticide, and compared it to how the Pharaoh had ordered all of the newborn Hebrew boys to be killed. I actually walked out -- first time I've ever done that -- and spent the rest of the sermon downstairs. I found this to be in very poor taste, to insinuate that abortion in any form is infanticide, or to think that "late term abortion" = "kill the baby for literally any reason at any time". Or hell, to bring up a bill that was a.) in an entirely different state and therefore irrelevant in Michigan, and b.) not passed anyway. He's mentioned abortion a few more times since then, and usually in a tone similar to this shockingly tasteless and very likely factually inaccurate radio ad I heard last fall on a road trip. Since then, he's brought up his abortion views no fewer than three times (once during congregational prayer instead of during the sermon), and while none of the other times was bad enough to make me walk out again, it was still off-putting.

I'm not bothered by the fact that he's pro-life and I'm pro-choice. I'm not bothered that the American Baptist Church, from what I can tell, also upholds pro-life beliefs. I am bothered by how misinformed he appears to be, and how often he keeps bringing up his misinformed viewpoints. My mom did her own research and came to the conclusion that she, too, is pro-choice. On Saturday, during music rehearsal, she brought it up to the music leader, who suggested that she put it in writing to both the church elders and Pastor Ron himself. If he gets the message, then I hope he doesn't end up finding another political drum to beat instead. I would hate to leave a congregation that genuinely enjoys my music, just because of the pastor.
do you have cliffsnotes for this diatribe?
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by seaborgium »

CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:54 am do you have cliffsnotes for this diatribe?
As if you'd offer anything constructive either way.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by CasketRomance »

seaborgium wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:18 am
CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:54 am do you have cliffsnotes for this diatribe?
As if you'd offer anything constructive either way.
you never know...don't see any feedback from you in regards to his post
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by seaborgium »

CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:27 am
seaborgium wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:18 am
CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:54 am do you have cliffsnotes for this diatribe?
As if you'd offer anything constructive either way.
you never know...don't see any feedback from you in regards to his post
At least I can say I read the whole thing.
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Volante
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by Volante »

CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:27 am
seaborgium wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:18 am
CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:54 am do you have cliffsnotes for this diatribe?
As if you'd offer anything constructive either way.
you never know...don't see any feedback from you in regards to his post
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by TenPoundHammer »

I've already blocked him on Twitter for replying to literally all of my tweets with his BS. And he's now the first person on this forum to be on my foe list.

I posted this because I thought it would be a place to show a different side of me, and maybe get input from Opus or other people with experience in the field.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by alietr »

TenPoundHammer wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:39 am I've already blocked him on Twitter for replying to literally all of my tweets with his BS. And he's now the first person on this forum to be on my foe list.

I posted this because I thought it would be a place to show a different side of me, and maybe get input from Opus or other people with experience in the field.
I know I've given you a hard time over the years, but his comment was just plain rude. I've edited several of his recent posts, and he continues to skate on thin ice despite several private warnings. I guess a ban would be next.

I read the whole thing and appreciated that you posted it.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by CasketRomance »

alietr wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:19 am
TenPoundHammer wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:39 am I've already blocked him on Twitter for replying to literally all of my tweets with his BS. And he's now the first person on this forum to be on my foe list.

I posted this because I thought it would be a place to show a different side of me, and maybe get input from Opus or other people with experience in the field.
I know I've given you a hard time over the years, but his comment was just plain rude. I've edited several of his recent posts, and he continues to skate on thin ice despite several private warnings. I guess a ban would be next.

I read the whole thing and appreciated that you posted it.
how was it rude...it was long and just wondered if i could get a summary...i hate reading...i am the least read master's degree ever....have only ever read 4 books from cover to cover and rarely did any course reading during my uni days
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by alietr »

CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:14 pm
alietr wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:19 am
TenPoundHammer wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:39 am I've already blocked him on Twitter for replying to literally all of my tweets with his BS. And he's now the first person on this forum to be on my foe list.

I posted this because I thought it would be a place to show a different side of me, and maybe get input from Opus or other people with experience in the field.
I know I've given you a hard time over the years, but his comment was just plain rude. I've edited several of his recent posts, and he continues to skate on thin ice despite several private warnings. I guess a ban would be next.

I read the whole thing and appreciated that you posted it.
how was it rude...it was long and just wondered if i could get a summary...i hate reading...i am the least read master's degree ever....have only ever read 4 books from cover to cover and rarely did any course reading during my uni days
If you don't understand why your comment would be considered to be rude and insulting, you do have bigger problems. If you don't want to read, then don't complain about it. That's your issue.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by CasketRomance »

alietr wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:22 pm
CasketRomance wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:14 pm
alietr wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:19 am
TenPoundHammer wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:39 am I've already blocked him on Twitter for replying to literally all of my tweets with his BS. And he's now the first person on this forum to be on my foe list.

I posted this because I thought it would be a place to show a different side of me, and maybe get input from Opus or other people with experience in the field.
I know I've given you a hard time over the years, but his comment was just plain rude. I've edited several of his recent posts, and he continues to skate on thin ice despite several private warnings. I guess a ban would be next.

I read the whole thing and appreciated that you posted it.
how was it rude...it was long and just wondered if i could get a summary...i hate reading...i am the least read master's degree ever....have only ever read 4 books from cover to cover and rarely did any course reading during my uni days
If you don't understand why your comment would be considered to be rude and insulting, you do have bigger problems. If you don't want to read, then don't complain about it. That's your issue.
okay...fair enough....btw...disappointed that you dude norman chad hasn't chimed in on twitter about holzhauer getting tossed
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by twelvefootboy »

TenPoundHammer wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:39 am
I posted this because I thought it would be a place to show a different side of me, and maybe get input from Opus or other people with experience in the field.
I've always thought this was your mojo. Thanks for sharing and putting it out there, and you may get constructive comments. I can't offer much except that there isn't enough bandwidth to support an abortion / pro-choice / pro-life thread. It's hard for me to even stop at that sentence... trying... trying...

Kudos for you and your mother for looking around the filter. Those stuck in the echo chamber(s) never really self-determine. It's bad enough that outsiders determine peoples' beliefs, and even worse that old white people decide whether they go to jail or not.
Disclaimer - repeated exposure to author's musings may cause befuddlement.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by CasketRomance »

when is the next td?
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by MarkBarrett »

Saw this in USA Today by Ryan W. Miller: (Felt this thread was better than current events as not sure if the writers would do anything with it):

Get ready for a few stumbles at Christmas Mass during the Our Father.

Pope Francis reportedly approved changes to the wording of the Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father.

Instead of saying, "Lead us not into temptation," Catholics will say, "Do not let us fall into temptation," The Guardian and Fox News reported.

The pope said he thought the English translation of the prayer was not correct.

"It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation," he told Italy’s TV2000 channel in 2017, per The Guardian. "I am the one who falls. It’s not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen.

"A father doesn’t do that; a father helps you to get up immediately. It’s Satan who leads us into temptation, that’s his department."

The Lord's Prayer comes from the Gospels in which Jesus taught his disciples the prayer. It is among the most sacred prayers in both Catholicism and Christianity overall, though there are other translations across denominations.

Francis also reportedly approved changes to The Gloria from "peace on Earth to people of good will" to "peace on Earth to people beloved by God."
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by gnash »

MarkBarrett wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:16 pm Saw this in USA Today by Ryan W. Miller: (Felt this thread was better than current events as not sure if the writers would do anything with it):

Get ready for a few stumbles at Christmas Mass during the Our Father.

Pope Francis reportedly approved changes to the wording of the Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father.

Instead of saying, "Lead us not into temptation," Catholics will say, "Do not let us fall into temptation," The Guardian and Fox News reported.

The pope said he thought the English translation of the prayer was not correct.

"It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation," he told Italy’s TV2000 channel in 2017, per The Guardian. "I am the one who falls. It’s not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen.

"A father doesn’t do that; a father helps you to get up immediately. It’s Satan who leads us into temptation, that’s his department."
That's kind of weird. The Greek word used in Matthew is a form of eispherein "to bring into" or "to carry into". Doesn't seem to be easily interpreted as "to let fall into".
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by gnash »

Maybe this should be in the current events thread, but the Dear Leader has declared Moon to be part of Mars.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by TenPoundHammer »

When I filled in at a Catholic church, their rendition of the Lord's Prayer went in a totally different direction after "deliver us from evil":
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles;
I leave you peace, my peace I give to you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
Also, I must say that Catholics have some of the weirdest freaking hymnals ever.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by seaborgium »

TenPoundHammer wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 9:38 pm When I filled in at a Catholic church, their rendition of the Lord's Prayer went in a totally different direction after "deliver us from evil":
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles;
I leave you peace, my peace I give to you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
Also, I must say that Catholics have some of the weirdest freaking hymnals ever.
You neglect to mention that the priest alone says most of that. Also, since they started using a translation that has been deemed more faithful to the Latin texts, the priests' bits have "distress" instead of "anxiety" (among other changes).
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by Lefty »

gnash wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 2:08 pm Maybe this should be in the current events thread, but the Dear Leader has declared Moon to be part of Mars.
Perhaps they won it in the War of the Worlds? I didn't listen to the whole thing.
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by TenPoundHammer »

seaborgium wrote: Sat Jun 08, 2019 1:22 am You neglect to mention that the priest alone says most of that. Also, since they started using a translation that has been deemed more faithful to the Latin texts, the priests' bits have "distress" instead of "anxiety" (among other changes).
They were still saying "anxiety" at the time. I just don't see the need to interrupt the flow of the prayer like that.

I still don't know what was the biggest shocker when I played there: the changes to the Lord's Prayer, the "missallettes" they use instead of a hymnal, the gutting of the lyrics to "Softly and Tenderly", the one song in the hymnal that had a line about praying for people with AIDS, or my former high school principal being a million times nicer to me in said church than she ever was to me in high school. :lol:
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Re: Reretaken Down

Post by CasketRomance »

5dimes online sportsbook already has props up for next year's spelling bee

2020 Scripps National Spelling Bee - ESPN - Sunday, May 31, 2020 8:30 PM
101 Boy wins or multiple boys share champ -120
102 Girl wins or multiple girls share champ -120
103 Boy is lone champion +245
104 Girl is champion or share champion -335
105 Girl is lone champion +245
106 Boy is champion or share champion -335
107 Single person is champion -125
108 Two or More co-champions -115
109 Winner comes from sponsored region -120
110 Winner comes through RSVBee program -120
2020 National Spelling Bee - Propositions - ESPN - Sunday, May 31, 2020 8:30 PM
151 Last speller wears glasses -140
152 Last speller won't wear glasses +100
153 Last speller wears braces +180
154 Last speller won't wear braces -260
155 Last word has over 9½ letters +115
156 Last word has under 9½ letters -155
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