Gather

ByHal Hammons

When a bunch of preachers gather in a single area, they tend strongly to discuss the things of the Spirit.  Perhaps that is simply to “fit in.”  Perhaps it is to demonstrate our credibility in spiritual matters. Perhaps it is simply because it is what everyone else is doing.  In any case, we look more like preachers when preachers are the only ones in the room.

That can be a result of hypocrisy, and in some instances it probably is.  Maybe some are just going through the motions to blend in with people they admire.  Maybe that’s what I do.  But I like to believe, both for myself and for my brethren, that we see such circumstances as an opportunity to bring out the best in ourselves.  “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

There is no reason why this phenomenon should be isolated to preachers.  Christians at large work the same way — or at least, they should.  There’s nothing wrong with a civil discussion of college football (emphasis on “civil”), or a game of Magic: The Gathering, or the weather.  All of these came up with my preaching friends, by the way.  But there was never any confusion about what brought us together or what keeps us together.  Such should be the case with all of God’s people when we find ourselves gathered together — particularly on the Lord’s day to commune with Him and with one another.

My theory is, the feeling of camaraderie among brethren will increase with the frequency, intensity and fervor of our gatherings.  Let’s test that theory.

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Whenever I hear about a restaurant or other establishment that refuses to serve police officers, I always want to ask, “Do you expect them to serve you?”  After all, their service requires them to (at least potentially) put their very lives on the line for you.  The worst that can happen to you by serving them is getting a rotten tip.

It just seems reasonable.  When people put themselves out for you, you should be inclined to do the same for them. 

Buggies

Buggies

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Some people always return shopping carts. (I suppose, after almost eight years in the Deep South, I should get used to calling them “buggies.”) Some never return them. And some return them occasionally, depending on circumstances. You probably didn’t need a university study to reach that conclusion. What was revealed in one such study, however, is surprising.

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For everyone who has been fretting that television-watching conditions in the average American home have been just too oppressive, there is good news.  Now there is a bed that transforms into a theater.  Literally. 

Endorsement

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One time in the queue for Expedition: Everest, I saw an advertisement for “Yeti tinned meats.”  The review called it “tasty, sanitary, and compact.”  The review was from “Hal.”

Needless to say, the review — and for that matter, as far as I know, Yeti tinned meats — is bogus. 

Short cuts

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It’s time for another report from the Facebook links.  Really, one of these days I will quit watching these things.  But then again, if I did, where would I get ideas for this column?

Anyway, in this particular instance a woman was being interviewed by a TV reporter because she had difficulties while dropping her children off at school.  She was running late, so she decided to cut through an elementary school parking lot to get to another school in the neighborhood, driving around two traffic cones while doing so.  One schoolteacher was so upset at her actions that he literally threw himself onto the hood of her car.

Yield to your brethren

ByHal Hammons

A local fast-food emporium (which continually refuses to compensate me for all the publicity I give it) has a couple of yield signs in the parking lot.  All traffic yields to pedestrians (thanks for that), and “before food” traffic yields to “after food” traffic.   Makes sense.  If the “after food” cars can’t go, they get stalled at the window.  Then no one can go.

That leads me to Monday.