NOTE: Boring personal info below explaining why blogging will be light and why I need my guest-posters and collaborators to pick up the slack today.

Yeah, I go to church. Think of my as a Universalist, but without all the Korean mass-marriages and wussy pacifism. You wanna fight about it? Anyway, last night my wife and I got a sitter and went out to dinner. When we got back I noticed that our pastor had called and wanted me to call him back.

Of course, I didn't call him back. Duh, what do I look like, an idiot? When your pastor calls it can only be bad news. Either he's looking for someone to do a job in the church (and we have several vacancies that I absolutely don't want to do which is why I didn't call him back) or he's looking to help someone move-in or move-out and knows you're one of 3 people who has a flexible work schedule.

I thought the bullet was dodged, I could, after all, blame the whole not calling him back thing on the sitter. But nooooooo. The guy is three steps ahead of me! He gets a friend from church to call me knowing I would take his call.

So, if I'm not around much it's because some one is moving into the area from an affiliated church and they need some help. *Sigh*

Here's a moral question: It appears that the family moving in rarely attended at their old church. That is, they were members of the congregation in name only. Their old pastor asked my pastor to help them out. Now, I'm all about that whole helping people out thing that the dude Jebus I keep hearing about on Sunday talked about, but I feel a little bit of resentment here.

It seems to me that at some level (I'm sure there are tons of other reasons) the reason for organized religious bodies is to establish voluntary mutual aid societies. But isn't helping out those who are members in name only kind of defeating the 'mutual aid' part of the equation? That is to say, I never see slackers like this helping out the regular attendees when they move, but I always see the regular attendees helping the slackers out when they are moving or have other needs like that.

Am I being selfish for begrudging them?

Anyway, I'm off to help move them in. But I swear to Allah that if there isn't a pizza and a six-pack of ice-cold Dr. Pepper waiting for me than I will issue a fatwa against helping slackers move!!

Posted by: Rusty at 10:45 AM | Comments (32) | Add Comment
Post contains 463 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Jebus bless you Rusty! You're not a "sucker" because a sucker doesn't know he's sucking. Clearly you do ;-)

Posted by: Carlos at June 10, 2005 10:49 AM (8e/V4)

2 Without even getting into Universalism... Help them out and do your good deed for the day. (But demand that six-pack after.)

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 10:50 AM (x+5JB)

3 No, donÂ’t listen to Mr. Professional....get the goods UP FRONT. "Remember if they ask to take your top off, get the money first" Actually, I sympathize with you. I too feel like the only guy who gets called to help people or the church. I guess it is ok, but sometimes I wish "others" would pick up the slack a bit. If you guest bloggers ever need guest bloggers....I am your man.

Posted by: WunderKraut at June 10, 2005 11:02 AM (4wZ+b)

4 by helping the INO types, perhaps one day they wont be INO anymore... think assimilation... resistance is futile... besides if they become non-INO, then your pastor can call THEM instead.

Posted by: Jon at June 10, 2005 11:10 AM (9tzOa)

5 Well, I guess it is kind of human nature to begrudge it a bit, but I'll tell you the same thing my wife tells me. IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT!!! By being one of the dependable ones they can always count on to volunteer if they have a need, you increase the chances of them calling, because you will do the responsible thing and actually show up, even if it's inconvenient. And you probably drive home each time saying "Never Again." Until next time they call.

Posted by: Jeremy at June 10, 2005 11:10 AM (ssh6o)

6 I applaud WunderKraut's suggestion. Nothing makes the drudgery of moving a little more bearable then having some suds before, during, and after.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 11:15 AM (x+5JB)

7 okay, i'm pickin' up the slack... This is just up your alley. Leonard Nimoy (yes, this is the official web page of the Star Trek geek) apparently likes voluptuous women... http://www.leonardnimoyphotography.com/7body.htm By the way, Rusty, if you get "fired" from your church because you just don't feel like helping out, you can always come work for us at Intertrobe. Peace out...

Posted by: Editor at June 10, 2005 11:15 AM (adpJH)

8 here is the SUN article to go along with that... http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005260332,00.html You dirty bastards.

Posted by: Editor at June 10, 2005 11:17 AM (adpJH)

9 Editor: Hey, I just had lunch.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 11:20 AM (x+5JB)

10 Have some desert, then. I'm just finishing up my second cup of java here on the West Side.

Posted by: Editor at June 10, 2005 11:24 AM (adpJH)

11 Desert sounds good, but I hate Jello!

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 11:34 AM (x+5JB)

12 Someone say Desert, as in Desert Island? Check out the latest happenings for the weekend! http://www.desertisland.cc/home/2005/06/lettin_it_ride.html

Posted by: Desert Island Boy at June 10, 2005 11:50 AM (RgSqP)

13 That dude Jebus? Is that your wacky, non-Korean Universalist Christ? And I think yo are creating a new _INO ... Christian In Name Only ... Good luck with the Dr Pepper! /TJ PS - and yes, helping slackers move sucks ... but I agree with YBP - you can write that off as your good deed for the day/week/month.

Posted by: TJ at June 10, 2005 11:55 AM (hrK8I)

14 Clear that Nimoy image out of yer head with this. http://tbs.com/stories/story/0,,49762,00.html Only got one question. Mary Ann or Ginger??

Posted by: Howie at June 10, 2005 12:32 PM (D3+20)

15 Howie: Referring to the old show? May Ann all the way. Ginger was to "Mae Westish." Mrs. Howell is not in the running.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 01:03 PM (x+5JB)

16 I just could not get that Nimoy thing out of my head. Old show new show any show it has got to be Mary Ann for me. But a Mike sandwich with Ginger and Mary Ann bread now that's good stuff.

Posted by: Howie at June 10, 2005 01:11 PM (D3+20)

17 Howie: Now now. What would the little woman say? She might even forgive you for a brief fling with the Professor, but not that tart Ginger.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 01:21 PM (x+5JB)

18 Skipperrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Howie at June 10, 2005 01:22 PM (D3+20)

19 Editor: I was looking at the thumbnails and at first I thought they were all wearing string panties, but it turned out to be creases. EW.

Posted by: Oyster at June 10, 2005 01:24 PM (fl6E1)

20 Oyster: At least it wasn't lunchtime when you gazed on those big mammas.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 01:26 PM (x+5JB)

21 Howie: I think you're on to something. Remember how the Skipper always referred to his "little buddy"???

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 01:28 PM (x+5JB)

22 You guys actually LOOKED at the pictures. You guys are sick!!!!

Posted by: Editor at June 10, 2005 01:33 PM (adpJH)

23 I admit I did, but I was seriously expecting something artistically interesting from the Spockster. Not something, er...gross.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 01:36 PM (x+5JB)

24 I always imagined Nimoy was a freak, but DAMN! Can you imagine the smell in the room? I'm guessing tuna and Limburger cheese left in a hot car for a couple of days.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 10, 2005 01:45 PM (0yYS2)

25 Yes I remember. Drop me a line to clarify if you wish.

Posted by: Howie at June 10, 2005 01:58 PM (D3+20)

26 IM: That's truly nauseating. Now I'm REALLY going to blow my lunch... Death to the Vulcan and his perversions.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 02:39 PM (x+5JB)

27 Howie: At that wine again???

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 02:40 PM (x+5JB)

28 Well no. I'm working like a dog. I have a little batch going. I think its been about two weeks. The bubbling has slowed up quite a bit, but it's no where near done yet. I'm hoping if I don't watcvh so closely it will get done quicker. A watched pot never boils. But mainly I'm trying to did out of this hole I'm in and get ahead so I can get some time to do other things. The computer Isn't cooperating with me today though and it looks like I'm going to have to put in some hours this weekend.

Posted by: Howie at June 10, 2005 02:56 PM (D3+20)

29 Those are the kind of gals you have to roll in flour first.

Posted by: Oyster at June 10, 2005 02:57 PM (fl6E1)

30 I'm looking at it this way. By church members helping them out it shows that your church cares about them thus they may be more apt about attending church.

Posted by: Karl B at June 10, 2005 02:59 PM (xVnxW)

31 "Those are the kind of gals you have to roll in flour first." "I'm looking at it this way. By church members helping them out it shows that your church cares about them thus they may be more apt about attending church." I can see this thread has split into two directions!

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 10, 2005 03:01 PM (x+5JB)

32 Just remember to lift with your knees. And something from Ecclesiastes about casting your bread upon the waters; it'll probably be a bit gooey later, but it'll be there.

Posted by: tee bee at June 10, 2005 05:06 PM (q1JHF)

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