a coherent collection of random statements regarding God, words and tunes

OK, shut up, have a post....

     I was thinking of posting this anyway, but was gonna expound more on the latter part of this. But as I'm kind of unmotivated right now and need to freshen the place up regardless, take this three-quarters-hearted attempt instead....

     Anyway, this is old news in some sectors, but it's still messing with my head. Had the weirdest phone call I could conceive of on Saturday. My mom's boyfriend (see February blog for further details) called; first time I've spoken with him in about seven months. My youngest daughter picked it up, and gave "Uncle XX" to me as quickly as humanly possible; meanwhile, he put another guy on the phone, who after I got off the phone realized was someone from our small group who'd became a Christian early on our watch seven years ago, and left his wife to shack up with another woman a few months before I left Jersey. The latter actually came to the wake and started justifying his behavior, and there I am counseling him to snap the faith out of it right in the middle of my mother's wake -- with my mother laying there 10 feet away -- while 10 feet in the OTHER direction, "Uncle XX" was... well, again, see the February blog....

     As far as I can guess they must've just met; they were both bus drivers, so I assume that's how. ("Uncle XX," who got kicked out by the Jehovah's Witnesses 30 years ago for his own infidelities but still wants back in and never failed to do their end-times schpiel every time God came up in a conversation, never stepped foot in our church in the 8 years I was there, unless you count visiting our home in the very early days, and during times when we weren't meeting.)

    Anyway, that was VERY weird. Another call like that and I'm changing the number. Anyway anyway, that pretty much constituted Reasons to Leave New Jersey, Parts 250-278.

    Otherwise (and not entirely changing topic, after all), been wrestling with some other ministry issues as of late -- i.e., still trying to figure out where I fit in out here (aside from my job, of course). Interesting that I've had more "God moments" with others in the weight room after work this past week than I have in our church the past nine months. There may be something to this. But I'll wait and see what, rather than waste time speculating further just now.

Posted by: burninglight at 15:16 | link | comments (8)

Comments:

#1  05 October 2006 - 18:38

 

this is so painfully close to home! you have no idea- except for the 'god moments' part.

thanks for the comments!

faaraa

faaraa

#2  05 October 2006 - 18:47

 

I'll take that. But it sure doesn't sound like Bon Jovi either way, DOES it? :D

burninglight

#3  10 October 2006 - 00:31

 

well, we could write some lyrics and send them to Jon.

ha!

faaraa

#4  10 October 2006 - 15:10

 

He could use them. :D

For all his hubris and overhype, Springsteen IS Jersey. (Pull out those old copies of Greetings from Asbury Park or The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle if you don't believe me. Darkness on the Edge of Town may be substituted, in a pinch. :D) Bon Jovi, on the other hand, is just a poser FROM Jersey. :P

burninglight

#5  13 October 2006 - 15:09

 

Carl, one NEVER wastes time by speculating. Life is a speculator sport, my man. As for mor godmoments in the weight room than in church, I don't really need to remind you that it's the people, not the building. The actions, not the mission statement, right? Not that I know anything (being a practicing Lesterfarian and all) but that's what my speculatin' speculator's been specualatatin' on this mawhnin', King fish.

And as far as who IS Jersey or not I've got 2 words for ya:

TENSION ENVELOPES.

(no, uh, Patti Smith, maybe?)

tim

Anonymous

#6  13 October 2006 - 17:10

 

1) No, they don't. Just didn't want to waste everyone else's time on MY speculatin'. :)

2) Nope, no reminder needed. Still, it's frustrating that certain people in the particular building I've been inhabiting on Sundays seem determined to cut off any "non-sanctioned" thought at the knees (and not meanly, and yet in inexplicably direct opposition to the words that come out of their mouths -- and that's probably the most frustrating part of all).

3) You and Nietsche have always been great observers of the Church, my friend. And yet there's that one little thing I believe you both somehow miss.... :) Lord knows the church has done more than its part to keep it hidden, though....

4) "Slamming Door Repeats" as NJ state anthem? Makes sense to me. :)

5) I may be getting to Patti in a new column soon. Marion & I have been having fun rediscovering her lately. Downloaded these boots, "Divine Intervention" and "Paths That Cross" from her '95-96 "comeback" tour.... great stuff....

carl

burninglight

#7  16 October 2006 - 15:28

 

yo, will do. Do you know where (or if) there are any pattiboots from the OLD days? There's a film clip from cbgb in PBS's History of Rock and Roll and I'd love to see (or at least hear) the whole thing. Where do you download boots?

And when did we start calling them 'boots'?
tim

Anonymous

#8  16 October 2006 - 16:08

 

I dunno. Guess it's a dorkboard thing, and since I hardly had any bootlegs prior to knowing those guys.... Anyway, those can be found at grammy.ru. But the site's been very freaky lately; that was one of the last things I was been to download. Been working on the Violent Femmes' Hallowed Ground for two-plus weeks now....

burninglight

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