Priorities and Acting Your Age

My mom and I were talking this evening and we came to the conclusion that all Adventists are selfish, coniving idiots. Of course we don't really think this (at least I don't)--it just so happened that in the heat of our conversation we discovered that at every church we move to, there is always a group of people (very influential people) who just act like immature brats on an elementary school playground.

I'm tempted to go ahead and include the names of the parties involved, but to show that I am better than the low performance they exuded today, I will refrain. Today my dad and I were talking in the mothers room of our church and an army of Pathfinder mothers from our church came into "talk"/complain to him about something that he no doubt had nothing to do with.

A loud banging on the door interrupted our conversation and a mother entered and hastily asked if our conversation was done. My dad, assuming that things were finished (we pretty much were) said that I was just leaving and that they could come in. Knowing from experience that these people were probably here to complain about my dad's performance as pastor, I almost felt as if, to spite them, I should just tell them that I wasn't done and that they could have their time with him when I was done.

But I promptly left after my dad pretty much verbally ushered me out so these people could come in and harass him. I won't go into the specifics of the conversation they had (my dad filled me in later), but I will say that it was over a very childish issue that could've been solved by referencing something my mom would say when my brother and I fought as children: "You guys just need to get along!"

There were two things that disappointed me in this whole situation: the fact that my dad allowed his job as pastor for the past 10 years affect his perception of priorities, and the juvenile exploitation of my dad for their own selfish gain. There is no doubt in my mind that he loves my brother an I very much and that we are his priority. But I saw today that he didn't really have his priorities straight. I don't really fault him. More so, I fault the extremely insensitive and immature mothers that walked in like they owned the place. They think that because my dad is the pastor of their church, that he works for them and that they have priority of his time over mine. Who the hell do they think they are?

Last I checked, our churches aren't places for all the political bullshit that often leads to corruption in a congregational setting but a place where Christian believers can come together and worship together in community. But it has been my family's experience that we just can't find a church where that is the central focus. Where is our church going to these days? I guess that's the question that I need to answer and will need to decide for myself whether or not I want to be a part of that.

Teenage Years

I would like to take this time to memorialize my teenage years as it is the last day I will be one. I suppose if I think about it, I've come a long way from glasses, braces and acne; my cracking voice despite my apparent attempts to try and lower it so as not attract laughs when called on in class; and driving to school freshly licensed to show everyone I was growing.

This past weekend, I went in to get my license renewed and I felt old. It's still going to have the red strip that warns lazy bartenders I'm not old enough to drink, so I guess I still have some time before I join a water aerobics class or get myself a pair of orthopedic shoes.

But if this were 1981, I could be getting married tomorrow. Think of that!

Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Mission and the Thai People

If you have been watching the news lately, you know there has been trouble in the capital city of Thailand--yes the beautiful, serene country of Thailand where my family's mission efforts have been concentrated for the last 60 years.

In a nutshell, some Thai people want the current Prime Minister of Thailand, Samak Sundaravej, to resign and elect Somchai Wongsawat. I was just reading this morning that their demands have been met. The others want King Bhumibol Adulyadej to have absolute power as he did 60 years ago and do away entirely with Thai Parliament.

I don't know the politics behind the issues that are causing the riots, but what I do know is that Thailand has a lot of work that needs to be done on the mission front. This is why its people are so dear to my family's heart. We have student missionaries in Bankok and around the country right now and we also have trips planned in the near future so please keep the country of Thailand in your prayers as they are going through this difficult time.