December 13 – “A work of art”

 

 

We went to a banquet last night.  It was put on by the Galveston Baptist Association of churches to honor the pastors in our area.  I have been to it once or twice before, and it is usually, well, nice.  It doesn't ever compare with the one given by the Gideons every year.  They usually treat us to a meal at Gaidos or one of the hotels on the Island.  But the association usually caters a pretty good meal and the speaker is usually a funny guy. 

 

Last night matched up pretty well.  It was held at a church in Dickinson.  The main course was roast beef (two big hunks of it) with some green beans and mashed potatoes.  And the speaker was indeed a funny guy.  I think he was officially a music evangelist.  He said he travels all over the country, and he did a lot of singing.  Chris and I both agreed that his humor was targeted to his audience in at least two key ways.  First, a lot of what he parodied was related to being Baptist.  A lot.  In fact if you weren't Baptist, much of his stuff would make little sense.  He poked fun at deacons as a governing body in the church and at the "typical" church members who give pastors grief.  He also made comments on at least four or five occasions about Baptists eating a lot every time they get together.  I guess targeting Baptists is appropriate when you are speaking to a group of Baptist pastors and their wives.  His second target group was, well, old people.  I phones and texting and even email were ravaged in favor of just giving him "a call at the house."  He picked on the only youth pastor in the room.  Again, after looking around the room, he had his audience down pat.  Lots of geezers there.  Many of them were even older than me.  I did really like his Christmas medley, though.  He sang Jingle Bells like different artists would have over the years – Elvis, Three Dog night, and a couple of guys I never heard of, but the "older" guys in the room thought his rendition on whoever they were was hilarious. 

 

It was a pretty fun evening.  I got to spend it with Chris and the food was good.  It also made me appreciate even more what God has made Seaside out to be over the years.  Not so easily recognizable as Baptist, but clearly focused on Jesus.  That's a work of art there. 

 

Isaiah 32:18-20 says, "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.  Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free."

 

Father, don't ever stop touching up your masterpiece that is Seaside.  We still need the hand of the Master.  Amen.