98.6

Now I know how the Martians felt in the original War of the Worlds.  It’s amazing how quickly a virus can bring one down!  I felt the attack coming on Friday night, and tried to fend it off with by taking Airborne and sucking on Vitamin C lozenges.  Didn’t work.  Like MJ dropping 38 on Utah while battling the flu, I manned up and made the arduous trek to my parents’ home after church.  Once there I pretty much spent Sunday and most of Monday in a horizontal position.  One benefit of being sick is that it’s a great kick-starter for a weight-loss regimen.  Anyway, now I’m all better and should be my normal self at church tomorrow (look out world!).  Nick and I are going to watch John Huston’s “The Bible” tonite, which covers the first 22 books or so of Genesis.  I remember watching this late one nite as a kid.  From what I remember, it covers creation, Asam & Eve, Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham & Isaac.  I remember being scared when Lot’s wife turned into the pillar of salt.  Should be fun!

No, really, I'm not complaining!

So I was lying around yesterday thinking a comment someone made to me at the Feast. The comment came after some Jamaican brethren (OK, mostly sistren) sang special music. As they sang, they swayed rhythmically back and forth. A friend (who happens to be black), commented on how you never see that. I hadn't really paid it that much attention, as I grew up Baptist, and one sees far more activity than swaying when the choirs really get into it. My friend went on to opine that some in the church would be offended by the swaying of the choir. At first, I didn't agree, but after giving the matter some thought I think my buddy might be correct. How many things are frowned upon because of cultural differences and not for scriptural reasons? For example, many brethren listen to classical music on the Sabbath. I do too - but I also listen to instrumental jazz. I don't know if I'd break out the jazz while other brethren were visiting unless I knew for certain they wouldn't be uncomfortable.

Take our hymns, for instance. I like the way they're written, and I love the arrangements for almost all of them - but I don't think that they will be sung the way their written now by every nation. You can click on the album name to hear a snippet of "Praise the Eternal". Some nations will "jazz them up" a certain way, and some nations will jazz them up in other ways,IMHO. Is that wrong? I think there are going to be noticeable differences between services in Lagos, Auckland, and Jerusalem. I think God will revel in the different flavors His worship will take among the various peoples of the world. Of course, the aspects of each culture that is counter to God's way of life must be discerned and removed. I have a CD (somewhere) by Chris Jasper, a former member of the Isley Brothers. Apparently he attended WCG for a time in the late 80s or early 90s. Anyway, his CD "Praise the Eternal" contains his versions of the title track and "Holy Mighty Majesty". I happen to like his versions, but I imagine his renditions would border on sacrilege for some.

I heard there were some naysayers a few years back when a male ensemble performed a contemporary gospel song for special music at another Feast site ("Awesome God", I believe it was). The problem was not the lyrics of the song - but the way the song was performed. I remember there being some miffed brethren at a Feast in Panama City a few years back when a guy performed a sax solo of "Amazing Grace" for special music. Now, I understand that "Amazing Grace" probably made those people uncomfortable because of its association with mainstream religion. That's understandable, I guess, considering most people in the church want to distance themselves from mainstream religions as much as possible. Still, I thought some of the reactions I heard were a bit extreme. But hey, what do I know?

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm going to make a more concerted effort to ask myself when I see something I think is wrong: "Do I think this thing/action/idea/attitude is wrong because it is - or because it's different than the what I would do?" If I can't determine that whatever it is is wrong according to the Bible, then I guess I have some work to do on myself.

PS: Liking Bob Dylan's or Dave Matthews' singing SHOULD be frowned upon! I'm sure there's a Scripture in there somewhere that covers that.

... here comes baby sans baby carriage

Apparently our cousin was a wee bit more than 7 months pregnant.  She had her fist prenatal visit this morning.  She’s now in the hospital, dilated  cm.  There should be a new member of the fam tonight or tomorrow morning.  Whoa.

Edit: He's here! Seven lbs, 3 oz. Born sometime around 9:45-10:00.

More Nickisms

Overheard by me after Nick's class visited a local nursing home:

The M.R.S.: Nick, what did your class do at the nursing home?
Nick: We gave out flowers.
M.R.S: Did they say thank you?
Nick: No ma'am. They were too old.

Convo @ Ruby Tuesdays. We were sitting beside a map of the United States.

Nick: Daddy, it shouldn't take us long to get to Florida.
Me: Really? Why not?
Nick: Because all we have to do is drive through Gorilla and we're there!
Me: Gorilla? You mean Georgia?
Nick: Is that what that says?

For Desiree

1. Name: Michael Bernard Palmer
2. Birthday: 8/4/70
3. Place of residence: Clemson, SC
4. What makes you happy: Making my wife/kids laugh
5. What are you listening to now/have listened to last: Classic Soul/Motown Sound (AOL Radio)
6. Do you read my LJ and be truthful about it: Yes, Desiree, I do. Quite often.
7. If you do, what is particularly good/bad about it: It's always entertaining. Sometimes funny, sometimes not so. But it's always a compelling read.
8. An interesting fact about you: I almost made it to the National Spelling Bee twice (before it was televised on ESPN)
9. Are you in love/have a crush at the moment: Madly
10. Favourite place to be: Panama City, FL @ Feast time
11. Favourite lyric: "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day..."
12. Best time of the year: Summer! Long days, not cold!
13. Weirdest food you like: Chicken Feet (stewed, of course)
14. Do farts make you laugh: Depends on whether I'm the flatulatee or the flatulator.

RECOMMEND
1. A film: National Treasure
2. A book: Island of the Blue Dolphins, Roots
3. A band, a song and an album:
Band: The Temptations
Song: "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by Isaac Hayes
Album: Emperors of Soul (5-disc compilation of the Temptations)

PLUS1. One thing you like about me: Your humor, sarcasm, and the love you extend to my boy. OK, so that's 3 things.
2. Two things you like about yourself: That's hard... Maybe my height and my taste in women. *That should secure me some brownie points with the M.R.S.*
3. Put this in your LJ so I can tell you what I think of you, which most of you won't.
4. POST A PICTURE OF yourself

Family ties.

I went to a funeral on my wife's side of the family Wednesday. The deceased family member was very respected and loved in the community and by the family. A great deal of care went into sending him out in style. After the graveside service, the family ate at the church and then everyone eventually ended up at my wife's grandma's place (she's the sister of the deceased). Within 4-5 hours of the covering of the casket the following things were witnessed:

1. A BIG argument (and near fistfight) between one of the deceased's sisters, 2 nieces, and the wife of one of the deceased's brothers. The argument was triggered by long-simmering animosity toward the sister-in-law, and by tacky comments she was overheard making at the funeral.

2. The dissolution of the marriage of said brother and sister-in-law. You can almost pinpoint the exact moment of fracture.

3. A near argument involving the who was taking home which particular flowers left over from the funeral. Did I mention all the flowers in question were identical, except for one pot held a slightly larger flower?

4. An announcement by one of the teen members of the family that she is pregnant. Seven months pregnant to be exact.

I guess this trumps the almost-fistfight between my mom's oldest brother (67) and one of her sisters (56) at a dinner for my Grandma last September. At least I could blame that one on excessive alcohol consumption.