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18 FEB 04: FAT WEDNESDAY
Its new fitness center with a walking track has been quite a blessing to me this winter [23 Jan] - but tonight St. Luke United Methodist Church is doing something I don't quite understand. A church is staging a "Mardi Gras" party! Doesn't this seem a bit contradictory -- like a preacher saying he's FOR sin at certain times of year?
The St. Luke Wednesday night "fellowship supper" will have a Mardi Gras theme, complete with a parade. I hope they stage this parade on 11th or 12th Streets -- because if they have it on Third Avenue, it might offend the First Baptist Church crowd right across the street.
The promotional flyer for St. Luke Church's Mardi Gras dinner promises "Gras" (fat) fare -- but a menu I saw had nothing but breakfast items, such as pancakes and omelets. I'm not sure anyone there even has heard of foie gras....
The Mardi Gras menu at St. Luke Church did NOT have "king cake" on it -- but if the past is an indicator, you can get that right now at many Publix stores. That's the ring-shaped, ridiculously sweet cake with a hidden toy baby inside. That's just what those Methodists need to get them ready to see "The Passion of the Christ."
And that's not all! St. Luke United Methodist even is naming a Mardi Gras King and Queen - and your purchase of beads helps decide the winners! How many husbands will pick a set that will go well with their wives' Easter dresses?
To be fair, this Mardi Gras dinner is a moneymaker for the "Samaritan's Fund" at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Which leads me to ask a question - if Samaritans in the Bible were so good, how come there's no country named Samaria today?
Perhaps my thinking about Mardi Gras has been colored by the stories I've heard from New Orleans. People in the French Quarter get drunk. Women show off bare bodies to get beads. In fact, it's a wonder the National Football League still plays Super Bowls there every few years.
Yet I've also heard Christian ministers over the years who've preached against not only Mardi Gras, but the season of Lent which follows. My own Pastor said sarcastically the other day, "God sure will be impressed by them giving up chocolate for Lent...." This is in a congregation where we'll give up leavened bread for a week in April. [True!]
The critics of Mardi Gras and Lent say there's no Biblical backing for it, and that's true. In fact, I take this so seriously that I haven't lent any strangers money in a long time....
BLOG UPDATE: Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue accused Columbus officials of "paranoia" Tuesday, when it comes to his policy on water from the Chattahoochee River. He may have a point, you know. Did anyone think about naming our fine arts hall the AFLAC-Center?
During a visit to LaGrange, Governor Perdue denied he's "sending signals" to Columbus officials by withholding support for a million-dollar federal environmental grant. If this Governor wants to send a signal, he'll attach a banner to a state
helicopter, climb inside and fly it over the city himself.
Mayor Bob Poydasheff hasn't changed his mind on the city taking Alabama and Florida's side, in a legal fight over Southeastern water usage. He told WRBL he doesn't want drinking water "that makes people gag." You tell 'em, Mr. Mayor - save that for when the monthly bill comes.
THE BIG BLOG QUESTION: Our baseball nickname survey is over, and people prefer the new "Columbus Catfish" to the old "South Georgia Waves" by a margin of 2-1. So now we can officially say you can "Wave" the old name goodbye....
As for other news items we noticed Tuesday:
+ The Muscogee County School Board voted to ban smoking on school grounds by faculty members, as well as students. How are teachers supposed to unwind during planning periods -- by grading papers or something?
+ The School Board also decided to save money by ending after-school tutoring programs after this week. This could force changes at Boys and Girls Clubs -- for instance, by teaching spelling with basketball games other than H-O-R-S-E.
+ New statistics from Muscogee County Schools indicated 18 percent of all students have dropped out over the last five years. That computes to more than 3,000 children, who apparently are counting on Columbus Park Crossing bringing in more restaurants.
+ Georgia State Senator Regina Thomas of Savannah chastised lawmakers for passing a constitutional amendment specifying only male-female marriage -- but NOT attaching her amendment making adultery a crime. How scared would men be, if this happened? Jimmy Carter might have to clarify that "lust in my heart" quote from Playboy magazine years ago.
+ The Werner Ladder Company of Anniston, Alabama announced it's going out of business by year's end, putting 550 workers out of jobs. I'd never stopped to consider this before -- that even the ladder business can have a fall-off.
+ Instant Message to WXTX Fox-54: You don't HAVE to show "Becker" reruns at 11:00 every night, you know. Keep showing that "Doo-Wop Gold" album infomercial, and you'll steer me away from the news most of the time.
© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.