Some Randomly Not Necessarily Connected Thoughts

Should a denominational affiliated church leave that connection out of its name? Some churches have opted to leave their denominational connection out of the name feeling that it can be a hindrance to attracting new people. Others have left the name in preferring the "trusted brand" approach. New research suggests that it is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, denominational churches are perceived as more formal and rigid and old-fashioned. On the other hand, churches not connected to a long-established denomination or denominational churches that hide their affiliation are perceived as less honest and give a feeling of uncertainty as to what they may believe.

The bottom line for me is that this is nothing more than a red herring. Church communities will thrive when they are actively making and maturing disciples, and centrally focused on the mission Jesus gave to it, whether that church is part of a denomination or not-- making disciples and getting outside the walls of the church building is the ticket to vitality. The problem is not the name on the sign in front of the building; the problem is inwardly focused congregations that see discipleship as a one hour a week endeavor and that function more like a country club than God's people who are called to be a light to the nations in word and deed.

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Tuesday, February 26th is National Pistachio Day. Even nuts have their own special interest lobby.
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In this season of Lent, our thoughts turn to the necessity of repentance. Repentance is much more than simply feeling sorry for our sins, though that is part of it. Repentance is an about-face, a turning in the opposite direction away from the kind of life that requires repentance in the first place. Confession is a necessary element of repentance, and we should not fear confessing our sins to God. As Bishop Ambrose states,

Let us then not be ashamed to confess our sins unto the Lord. Shame indeed there is when each makes known his sins, but that shame, as it were, ploughs his land, removes the ever-recurring brambles, prunes the thorns, and gives life to the fruits which he believed were dead. Follow him who, by diligently ploughing his field, sought for eternal fruit.

Confession is indeed good for the soul.
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Some interesting links on the Genesis death sandwich, ten weird ways we deal with the dead, and some alleged relics of Jesus (emphasis on "alleged").
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Spring training has begun! It won't be long until the boys of summer are back on the diamond. There are few things in life more pleasurable than sitting in the stands on a balmy summer evening watching a baseball game!
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Quotes of the Week (Possibly, but Not Necessarily Said This Week):

"There are times when taxes are the conservative thing to do."--State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler,  saying higher motor-fuel taxes would be preferable to Texas’ big debt for highways (Dallas Morning News Transportation Blog, Monday)

"They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three."--Maurice Taylor, CEO of the U.S. tire company Titan International, about union workers at a French tire plant he decided against buying (The Wall Street Journal, Wednesday)

"When your heart stops beating, you’ll keep tweeting."--Slogan for new social-media app LivesOn, touting ability to send post-mortem commentary based on the deceased’s online profile (Reuters, Wednesday)
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Interesting and Somewhat Useless Trivia:

One ton of water is required to make one pound of refined sugar.
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This Week in History:

February 22, 1980: The U.S. hockey team upsets the Soviet Union in the Winter games of the XIII Olympiad.