  religiously eclectic weekend
Friday evening I attended the Temple Israel Shabbat service out in Rogersville with my NT Literature class (they served wine for “religious purposes only” and bread along with snacks afterwards). Several of the students got really “religious” when they found out the wine was for “religious purposes”!! Sunday morning I attended the 8am mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic service (last week I went to Christ Episcopal’s 8am service—very similar to St. Joseph’s). In the final prayer it was humorous that we prayed for the blessing of the “step-father of Jesus.” St. Joseph’s building is beautiful—and it appears that the congregation is very active. They were having a wine and cheese fundraiser one night this week $30. At 9am I attended service at Central Assembly. I went by myself since Pam was off doing a drug test this weekend (a company pays people to be guinea pigs for new drugs they’re testing). It was communion Sunday at Central—I sat in the upper tier of the balcony—I kind of feel lost without Pam on weekends. At 10:30am I attended The Core’s service at The Front Porch downtown. They also served communion around the tables and we talked and shared with one another. There was a mother and her eight and ten year old sons at our table. The ten year old was very articulate and said he just didn’t get the meaning of the whole juice and bread ceremony—David and Jessica (Evangel students at my table) patiently explained the meaning. The eight-year old was a Down’s syndrome child—the mother expressed how difficult it was to find a church where he would not be too disruptive. He soon got bored with our discussion and moved over to a table of other students—later he came back wearing one of the girl’s high heel shoes! The students were so gracious—and I could tell the mother was very relieved. She has been a spiritual “seeker” for years—Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah Witnesses, Baptist, Unitarian, etc. She seemed very bright—but seeking something that was authentic and non-manipulative. Saturday we attended week four of the Dave Ramsey “Financial Peace University.” Excellent stuff—we’ve decided to follow his plan and “live like no one else now…so we can live like no one else later.” I think we’re going over to Bob and Sherlynn Cook’s home this evening—they just moved into town from Colorado to head up the AG Higher Education department. I did yard work at home and Zach’s house (it sold after being on the market only three days last week). Jen's mom was in town this weekend--she stopped by and said goodbye before heading to the airport in Tulsa yesterday. Just going through the motions—I start a new degree completion class this Thursday evening…LIFE! | 
