^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

5 FEB 04: BIG CHURCH, LITTLE CHURCH

Drive east from Peachtree Mall on Manchester Expressway, and you can't miss it -- a big red billboard promoting Cascade Hills Baptist Church. But please do NOT be concerned. The red represents romance and Valentine's Day - and NOT Mel Gibson's movie "Passion of the Christ."

The big billboard on Manchester Expressway struck me as odd for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it's promoting a four-week series of sermons called "Soulmates." Some people might misunderstand, and think it's a series of singles dances.

But what really struck me about the Cascade Hills Baptist Church billboard is its location - next door to Gentian Baptist Church, where Gentian turns into Milgen Road. Perhaps Cascade Hills believes the sign is on the Milgen side, so it's not violating anybody's space.

I couldn't help wondering if the Gentian Baptist staff was upset by the presence of another Baptist church's billboard practically in its backyard. After all, I know some Pastors who still mutter in their sermons about wrongs that happened ten years ago.

My first call to the Gentian Baptist office for a comment came Monday afternoon - but there was only a receptionist in the building. She said she saw nothing wrong with the giant Cascade Hills billboard. But we all know how soft-hearted and mushy some women can be....

The Pastor would be in Wednesday, the receptionist said. So Wednesday afternoon, I called Gentian Baptist again - and Pastor Steve King was very polite about that big billboard. He didn't use my call to warm up for a Wednesday night sermon against stealing.

Gentian Baptist Pastor Steve King says the big Cascade Hills billboard is "not that important," because the two churches are NOT in "some sort of competition." Well, at least not until recreational softball season starts....

The Gentian Baptist Pastor says he knows several Cascade Hills Baptist staff members, and they're good people. And as when it comes to that big billboard, Steve King told me, "I hope it helps them." God may call Himself "Jealous" in the Bible, but church Pastors can't afford to admit to that trait.

Gentian Baptist Pastor Steve King says his church and Cascade Hills share the same goal: winning people to Jesus Christ. Maybe so, but I can't forget what former St. Mary's Road United Methodist Pastor James Swanson said two years ago. "Ministry can be a very competitive business" - and he wasn't laughing.

The sight of that billboard is a big reminder of one issue in U.S. religion these days - the growth of "mega-churches" with thousands of members, and all sorts of fancy tempting extras. I recall a "Doonesbury" cartoon years ago where a young couple turned down one church, because it didn't have racquetball courts.

BLOG UPDATE: T-SYS confirmed Wednesday it's laying off 237 employees. If the managers have any compassion, they'll offer laid-off workers their own platinum cards with a $2,500 credit line and no annual fee.

T-SYS spokesman Eric Bruner said the laid-off workers will be offered severance packages, because these are permanent job cuts. We're not sure what that means besides money. Maybe that can still rent the Mott House for parties.

The strange thing is, T-SYS is laying off more than 200 workers at the same time it's hiring 200 new employees for its call center. I think we can safely guess which positions pay more....

If there's any good news, the T-SYS layoffs come at a good time. A big six-hour-long job fair is planned at the Trade Center today. For some of the dismissed employees, it may the first time in years they've had to wear a suit and tie.

Now other news wisps from Wednesday:

+ The Russell County Commission voted to take legal action against Probate Judge Al Howard, for interfering in the drawing of election districts. What's the matter, judge -- isn't anyone signing your recall petitions?

+ Testimony began in the trial of Jimmy Lee Brooks, for the murder of Phenix City child Brett Bowyer. I don't know if Brooks is guilty or not -- but from the TV coverage I've seen, at least he got a better-looking haircut out of it all.

+ NBC-38's Al Fleming declared Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson "low-life worms" for what happened during halftime of the Super Bowl. It makes you wonder what he called some of the performers at Al Who's.

(OK, since Al Fleming brought it up - isn't it amazing how no one is talking about the pay-per-view Lingerie Bowl now?)

+ Former reporter Latrina Patrick returned to WRBL - only this time speaking for a local "Tobacco-Free Coalition." Do you think they did the interview on a tape-delay, in case she mentioned something about her old bosses?

+ Instant Message to two unknown drivers of Knology vans: You drove by me quite quickly on Crawford Road in Phenix City. But you didn't drive fast enough - because I DID write down the "How's My Driving" phone number on your bumper stickers.

COMING FRIDAY: So this older man walks into a post office....

© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.