Pop a la Mode

Why does everyone act surprised when their allergies are going haywire in the spring? It happens every year.

On the TV show CSI, why don’t the investigators turn on the lights? They’re investigating this crime scene with flashlights but never bother to flip a light switch. Wouldn’t they be able to find more evidence if they could see properly?

Why doesn’t Paula Deen take her rings off when she’s cooking? Especially when she’s using her hands to mix a sticky dough. That’s disgusting.

Oh and by the way, puppy has a name: Chip. As in Chocolate Chip.

So according to the Birmingham News yestesrday, Alabama is having one of the worst pollen years ever.

Really? I hadn’t noticed.

My car is so disgusting I don’t even want to touch it. I would wash it but it would be yellow again before I even got halfway back to work.

Everytime I walk outside I have a sneezing fit. I’m considering buying surgical masks to wear.

My eyes hurt. I don’t even want to put eye make-up on because that would require touching them.

Oh I wish it would rain.

Mom and Dad picked up a new puppy last night.

What did I say? Give them two weeks of seeing Hershey all sad and lonely and they would have another dog. Dad kept saying no - no more dogs. Nobody believed him.

It’s a he and he’s a chocolate lab - 8 weeks old. Dad says he’s Mom’s dog so she gets to name him. I made some suggestions but they were all shot down so I’m not helping anymore.

D. and I are waiting for a picture that was promised. I’ll post one here as soon as I get it.

UPDATE! We now have a picture of No Name as he is known. He’s so cute!

I’m getting up on my soapbox for a moment. So skip this if you’re so inclined.

The front page story in The Birmingham News this morning detailed how a very well-known and well-liked pastor in the area admitted to having an extramarital affair and thus, has suspended his ministry.

Rick Ousley is the founder of The Church at Brook Hills - one of THE megachurches in the Birmingham area. I think it would be safe to say that Brook Hills was the first non-traditional Baptist church in the whole state of Alabama. They utilize contemporary worship and began Friday and Saturday night services that seemed to reach more unchurched than any of their other services combined.

Ousley stepped down from the pulpit of Brook Hills two years ago after a health scare. He began an evangelical ministry and from what I understand, he was very popular - especially in youth rallies and college ministries. And yes, even marriage seminars.

The news of his affair hit like shockwaves throughout the state this morning. Many people I work with attend his church and were completely blown away. Some had tears; some said they felt as if their hearts were breaking; some were “devastated” and many were just struck dumb.

It’s always disappointing when a renowned leader and teacher is found unfaithful. But devastating? I don’t think so. I’m more saddened by the fact that this affair lasted over 20 years and YET, he still begged his lover not to come forward out of fear that it would hurt his ministry.

And he’s just figuring that out now?

That’s right, he’s still just a man. A man who sinned. But who reading this hasn’t sinned? I’ve never really understood why we hold church leaders up to such a standard that we ourselves aren’t willing to live with ourselves. We’re disappointed because if he can fall, how easy would it be for us to fall?

The simple answer: it’s as easy as it’s always been. Because we’re all still human - no matter if we’re church leadership or the Sunday pew warmer.

Churches of the 21st century have created something that I really don’t like: Christian celebrities. If the church is big enough and renowned enough, anyone that does anything in front of the church becomes a local celebrity. Setting them up on this pedastal and in some cases, worshipping the idea of what we think they should be.

In my opinion, the problem is that in the era of megachurches - we’ve forgotten the reason why we’re at church in the first place.

We don’t go because the pastor is our best friend; we don’t go because the music is so good; we don’t go because we need to be seen at church; we don’t go because we want to hear what funny story the preacher will tell this week; we don’t go because our favorite soloist is doing our favorite piece; we don’t go just because it’s Sunday morning and that’s what we do.

We go because we want to learn and we want to grow in knowledge and in strength. We go because being surrounded by other believers gives us strength to get through the week. We go to be held accountable for our actions (whether we like it or not). We go not to find celebrity but to be insignificant.

When I go to church, I want to be small. I want to be human. I want to be changed. Because I am human and I’m not perfect. But I have the best guideline imaginable and it’s not my preacher, it’s not my administrative pastor, it’s not my minister of music and it’s not the guy sitting next to me in the pew.

There’s only One I ever want to be measured by and I pray that I remember that every day.

Our family dog Rocky died during the night last night.

He was old for a lab - almost 12. He had really started to slow down and over Christmas I had noticed he was favoring his left side a little. But he still acted like a puppy if you pulled the frisbee out or if he had to fight over something with Hershey (our other dog).

Rocky was the best dog. He was the kind that couldn’t get close enough to you. He would sit down right on your feet and lean all his body weight up against you. If you weren’t ready for it, it could knock you down.

Come to think of it, one time he did mow Dad down in the yard. Dad was sitting, resting after doing some yard work and we let the dogs out. Rocky took off in a flat run toward him. Dad’s thinking, “Surely this dog is going to stop or swerve.” But no, Rocky flattened him and Dad’s shoulder has never been the same.

He loved to be scratched and rubbed. He would flop over on his side and almost go comatose if you rubbed him the right way.

I feel worse for Hershey. She’s never been alone before so I know this will be hard. Mom said that she’s already whining and crying for him. I told Dad he needed to get another dog to keep her company but he said, no, no more dogs.

I don’t believe him.

That would be the governor for you folks that live outside the state of Alabama.

Yep, that’s right. I’m a bigwig now. Or at least I am in my own mind. I was down in Montgomery last night for a dinner and yes, the governor was there. He was about two tables down from me and very nice. I like him - he seems like a down-to-earth fellow that fell into politics by accident.

So of course that means that there were politicians everywhere and some major politicking going on behind the scenes. I’ve never felt the need to be involved in government and I have to admit, last night sealed the deal. I will never run for public office.

For one it is way too much effort to try and get everyone to like you. And second, I don’t think I could ever be that two-faced.

The funniest part of the night was also the saddest exhibition of Alabama at it’s not-so-finest. I had finished my mystery meat (seriously, was it chicken or pork?) and had properly aligned my silverware in the “I’m finished, take my plate” position.

The server comes up, looks at me and asks, “Is you done?”

At a function for the governor I am asked is I done. So sad.