Saturday, Baptists, Thai food, latte, sunshine and basketball . . .

The last few posts have been a bit heavy. There are heavy things going on in the world and in my heart.

But today was Saturday. The rule is that one should do what he or she wants to on Saturday, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. I needed to have a bit of fun.

Today I went to a Baptist meeting in Birmingham. Now I know at first blush that does not necessarily sound like a light hearted day, and especially, some of you might be thinking, for a United Methodist Wesleyan kind of guy like myself.

But, my friend Becky had been working for a long time on this particular event and it looked promising. It was a celebration of the new Baptist covenant. The morning featured great sessions on issues of poverty, injustice, racism, education and health issues. After checking in at the Civil Rights Institute I went over to the 16th Street Baptist church where Wayne Flynt led a session on poverty. The fellowship hall was packed out. Then it was up to the sanctuary, a bit early, where a worship service was going to be held at 10:30. The choirs, dancers, and dramatic readers were practicing. It was awesome.

Then in came Jimmy Carter, who was the main speaker for the worship service. I cannot adequately describe the worship service. The music was incredible. There were probably a hundred or so folks in the choirs, about two thirds of which sang from both sides of the balcony. The dancers were beautiful. The dramatic readers from Troy did a presentation of God's trombones creation story. (Apparently that is where the phrase "darker than a million midnights in a cypress swamp" cited in a previous post, came from). The choir's main anthem was U2's MLK, covered by the Birmingham Chamber choir.

Jimmy Carter is amazing. His main point was one we all need to hear, that all of the issues that we are all so passionate about are important, but secondary. First the body of Christ must have unity in the essentials (which is very Wesleyan.) Then we can address the matters of disagreement with more success. The feeling of unity created by the worship was so refreshing.

After the worship service we walked out into the brilliant sunlight and the cool air. Hundreds of people were hanging out, eating lunch. I saw several friends and stopped and talked. I spotted James Evans and once again introduced myself like the fan that I am, bless his heart.

But we talked too long, and they ran out of lunches. So, it was a sacrifice, but we went to Surin. Then to O'Henry's. Then the long way home with the top down on the convertible.

Then I got home and remembered that Alabama was playing Georgia tonight. A quick trip back to Tuscaloosa to see a win.

A good Saturday. Thank God.

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