Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 38                          SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                       November 24, 2006

The Black Kettle

            I was eating breakfast with a brother a few days ago at the Black Kettle, an appropriate name, but not particularly inviting. On our table was a plastic gismo containing a flyer which advertised a breakfast special: three pancakes, two eggs, and two strips of bacon for $2.39. Since two eggs alone were $2.35 it represented a pretty good deal. The only problem was I didn't want any pancakes.

            The waitress who came for our orders looked as though she had had a bad night. My father's description would be that she had been "run hard and put away wet," which has something to do with horses, I presume. Anyway, she approached us with a rather intimidating glare and demanded our orders.

            I had no desire to offend her further so in my most polite and differential tone I asked her if I could have the breakfast special but with three eggs and no pancakes, my theory being that three pancakes are surely more expensive to produce than one egg. She fixed her one working eye on me and said, "That ain't the breakfast special! Don't you read good? It's three pancakes, two eggs, and two bacon strips." More intimidating than ever - her voice had carried across the room and I found myself the object of many curious looks - I asked, very softly this time.

            "Could I just have two eggs and two bacon strips?

            "If you wanna' pay $3.30 you can."

            "But, that's unreasonable; you're charging me more for taking less."

            "Look, mister, you wanna' breakfast special or not? You order a breakfast special, you get a breakfast special, what you do with what you get, I don't care, now whadayawant?"

            I ordered the breakfast special, put the pancakes on a separate plate, and they threw them away which made everybody happy.

            The incident reminded me of our terrible penchant for religious rule keeping, even when the rules don't make sense. The rules are the rules, and rules are made to be kept, regardless of circumstances. Our greatest fear is that by breaking the rules we will "establish a precedent" and God forbid that precedents be established, because if they should be, then they become the rule and then each case would be decided on its own merits, consequently we would have to think, to justify our actions because we could no longer say, "I have no choice, it's in the handbook, or, we've always done it this way; and that would mean (if I can break a rule and write a run-on sentence) that I would hide behind my manual, my handbook, my catechism, my hermeneutical rules or syllogisms."

            How many have been kept out of the kingdom by our ridiculous rule keeping? If the world is offended at us because of sincere devotion to Christ and His word, let them he offended, but if the stumbling block is our devotion to a new legalism based upon conclusions logically, or otherwise deduced from the principles that He taught, then it would be better if a mill stone were placed on our necks and we were cast into - the sea.       John Smith

The Bulletin Board

            Senior Dinner - The dinner for the seniors that the youth group sponsored last week was a great success. About 39 seniors were present, the largest number that has ever attended. A large group of the youth participated and waited tables. Our thanks to them and to all of the adults, especially Laurie Giombi, who helped.

            The Sick - Elfriede Wandsnider had surgery last week and as of this writing is still in West Allis Hospital undergoing therapy. She is still in quite a bit of pain.

            Sunday Speakers - Monroe Hawley will preach at the morning services Sunday and Daryl Miller will speak in the evening. Bobby Valentine is in Alabama for a funeral.

            Vic Kurmis, for whom we had a memorial service after his death in October, will be buried at 1:00 p.m. next Monday, November 27th, at Valhalla Cemetery on Silver Spring Road. Anyone who would like to attend the commitment service and needs transportation should contact Monroe Hawley.

            Address Change – Keith and Toni Toombs. Contact us for details.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 142: second service, 76

            Sunday Night Live Youth Worship - On December 3^rd our young people will host a special program featuring Adam Mearcer from Naperville, II, as the speaker. This is a cooperative youth program hosted by different congregations. Those not in the youth group will be invited to join with the young people at worship time.

Calendar of Events

December 3 - Sunday Night Live Youth Worship

December 10 -Elders/deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

December 10 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

December 19 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

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