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Today’s Buzz: Church Organist Fired, Best Books, CNN, and Dung
As hard as it is to believe, today's buzz includes stories about a fired organist (why was she fired you ask?); a list of 'great' books; a church makes the CNN headlines in a good way; and a discussion on the proper discussion of the subject of dung...
Organist Fired for Selling Sex Toys
A Catholic priest has removed his church’s organist and choir director from her duties saying her sale of sex toys was not “consistent with Church teachings.”
Linette Servais, 50, played the organ and sung with the choir for 35 years. Much of her work as choir director and organist was done without pay. When her parish priest asked to meet with her, she thought it was to say thank you. Instead, she was told to quit her sales job with company known as Pure Romance or she would lose her position in the church. Pure Romance in Loveland, Ohio, is a $60 million per year business that sells spa products and sex toys at homes parties attended by women. It has 15,000 consultants like Servais. She said her decision was not hard: She began working with Pure Romance after a brain tumor and treatment left her sexually dysfunctional. The job allows her to help other women who have similar problems. “After I got over the initial shock, I prayed over this a long time,” she said. “I feel that Pure Romance is my ministry.” More here...
FOR DISCUSSION: What would you do if you found out your worship pastor moonlighted with “Pure Romance”?
Christianity Today Names Their Favorite Books of the Year
I’d never heard of some of these titles. Maybe you have. Here’s the list...
What books would you add or subtract from your list? Which were your favorites? Which ones were real duds for you?
Confessing Your Sins Online
Got an email from Troy Gramling a couple days ago telling about their successful campaign at their church (Flamingo Road)… It was actually picked up on by CNN! Great job, Troy! You can see the video at CNN here...
Cyberspace Church Challenges
Terry Storch had a great link about the top ten challenges churches will find serving in Cyberspace. Here’s the link.
Finally… an interesting discussion on poop
Been having fun on our discussion that’s come out of the Chuck Swindoll post earlier this week. Yesterday, the discussion taking the track that some words are acceptable for poop; but others are vulgar. Suggested proper terms are the biblical ‘dung’; or maybe feces as being ‘ok’ words for poop. But not the s-word, because Jesus never used it! That made me laugh. Maybe because the word in question is an english word (Jesus, believe it or not, did not speak english, although I’m sure he could have); or possibly because the word hadn’t been made up yet? Here are a couple other options. Kinda reminds me of the comment, “If the King James Version was good enough for the Apostle Paul, then it’s good enough for me.” Sadly, many people fail to realize that many of the words we say and the things we do are purely cultural rather than biblical. Steeples and altar calls and organs are just three that come to mind. Feel free to add your comments to the poop discussion here.
OK… enough of all this ‘vulgar’ stuff… have a great day!
This post has been viewed 880 times and was added on May 31, 2007 by Todd Rhoades. Filed under: Miscellaneous Personal Items from Todd Share this post with a friend right now! View reactions to this post at other blogs... You can really help us out by subscribing to our free RSS feed with your favorite feed reader, or here at Bloglines. Also, you can add us to your favorites at Technorati.
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My name is Todd Rhoades, the 'behind the scenes' guy here at MMI. I'm also on the team at Leadership Network (although that doesn't mean that they endorse everything I write here). In my past life, I was the developer of a of a website called ChurchStaffing.com. I hope you'll enjoy your time here and tell all your colleagues about MMI! 
MondayMorningInsight.com | PO Box 446 | Bryan, OH 43506 |
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Posted by Leonard
Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 9:40 AM
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Posted by Daniel
Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 10:29 AM
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Posted by cynthia
Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 10:34 AM
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Posted by
Friday, June 01, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Post Your Comments:In light of the other posts I must resist jokes about the woman who was fired. The book on the language of God is a fascinating read, I need 4 more trips to borders before I am through (just kidding) I don’t want to be a thief. It is a great book however.
have a good one.
I think the CT books look great. I’ve been meaning to read Collins’ “The Language of God” for a while now.
As a past Pure Romance customer, I think it’s quite sad that Mrs. Servais was relieved of her musical duties (Leonard, I didn’t understand your comment about refraining from joking, but as I typed this past sentence, it dawned on me...). Surely this has more to do with sexual taboos than with biblical injunctions. The Pure Romance website is clean (no pictures!), helpful, and pretty much the only place a (married, of course) Christian can go online to buy sex toys without supporting the massive industry of sexual sin.
Perhaps the priest and his congregation could have met with the woman and discussed this issue (although, of course, not having details at my fingertips, this may in fact have happened).
In any case, the doodoo discussion is disheartening. Evaluation of Christian language (which is appropriate in relational context) must focus on intent and meaning, over and above syntax. As Jesus taught us, the word ‘fool’ (though surely not intrinsically sinful) can mask a murderous spirit. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that one could use the word ‘crap’ with a perfectly holy intent (I’m neither claiming nor denying that Colson did this, by the way).
My two cents.
-Daniel-
I’d love feedback from MMI readers on Cyberspace Church Challenges.
Cynthia,
As someone who uses cyberspace in a variety of ways in ministry… I think some of the real challenges comes from the unknown. The fear of not being able to physically reach out and touch the person(s) involved in. I use myspace every single day. Oh my. Talk about the negative feedback I get from people about doing that. “Don’t you know the dangers??” Blah blah blah. In ministry there should always be risks. Of course, I do pick up hitchhikers too. So remember that when taking what I say in consideration.
Our oldest son is going to be participating in an online revival soon. I think this is fantastic! This is a very creative way to reach out to those who would not dare step foot inside a physical church building for one night let alone a few of them. Of course there is the question of can this really be done. Well, our son says not if it’s up to him for the results. If we believe for a moment that the Holy Spirit can move freely inside the walls of our churches then we must realize that members can just as easily be sitting at their desk in front of the computer all the same. The church is not the walls afterall.... There are many ways to come together.
I’m rambling. My apologies. I think if people would remember who we serve.... Then, the challenges aren’t bigger than His name or His power. But it must be His. We must be willing to utilize the instruments of changing times.
I have more thoughts but will stop there. Feel free to email me at if I can of any help to you in regards to this.
You’ve been prayed for,
Camey
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