Pastor Don Wolan

Pastor Donald Wolan
Downriver Christian Community Church
Melvindale, Michigan

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Eve Reprieve!


While on my way to church at noon on Christmas Eve, I could not help but notice the heavy traffic on almost every road and the hurrying spirit that seemed to accompany almost every driver. Everyone was rushing to get somewhere as quickly as possible. Everyone seemed to be on edge as they rushed to wherever they were going and any real sense of what this time of the year is all about was nowhere to be found. Cars were darting in and around me impatiently. People were quick to lay on their horns if someone was moving too slowly, and facial expressions, moving lips, and obscene hand signs accompanied drivers who were impeded by a slower moving vehicle. 



As I got to the corner of Allen Road and Outer Drive, I had my window down because of the mild temperature outside. All of a sudden, I heard church bells ringing. I could not make out the tune they were playing because I was in the middle of the intersection, but I knew that the sound was coming from the Saint Mary Magdalene's Church on Outer Drive. Captured by the sound of the bells, I wanted to hear what they were playing. I pulled over into the S.E.M.T.A. lot at Outer Drive and Allen Road and listened to the music.




I've uploaded a recording of the bells playing. It was a wonderful joy to hear the music and reflect on what Jesus came to do for all of us who believe and the real reason for the season. I hope you'll enjoy the video of the bells playing as your take a couple of minutes to remember why these bells were actually playing and not be like the cars and people passing by without one minute of reflection as to why those bells were being played. Jesus Christ came to liberate us from the hold of sin and death in all of our lives. As free men and women, we should be thankful and continually rejoicing in his gracious and precious gift of liberty and freedom from death and sin.





"Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof..." - Leviticus 25:10

Stay Holy, My Friends & Merry Christmas!


Pastor Don 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Chris 'School House' Rock!


Saturday morning cartoons were a treat many of us looked forward to back in the 60's and 70's. After a long week in school, Saturdays provided all of us kids an opportunity to sit in front of the television and veg out. We didn't have tablets, iPhones, Kindles, PCs or other sources of Internet entertainment to divert our attention from the real world during the week. Cartoons during the school week were far and few between and many times very lame.

We also did not have many stations to choose from to watch cartoons. Channels 2, 4, 7, 9, and 50 in the Detroit area were the slim pickings in those days, and the cartoons were hard to find at any time. My favorite cartoon during the school day, however, was a cartoon out of Canada on channel 9 called Clutch Cargo. Clutch Cargo was famous for the lack of movement in the characters. The only thing that moved in the cartoon was their mouth or their body when they walked. It appeared as if the character was on a pop sickle stick when the entire body was moved. The story line was always the same - some sort of problem would occur and Clutch Cargo would come to the rescue.


Saturday mornings were different because of the large selection of cartoon that were available in the morning. Each station carried its own syndicated cartoons, and a parent could enjoy a couple of uninterrupted hours of peace and quiet from their kids when the toons were on.



As the 70's wore on, Saturday mornings were taken over by "educational programming" aimed at educating children instead of allowing them some mindless entertainment for a couple of hours. Shows such as Sesame Street, The Brady Kids, and The Big Blue Marble were all produced to "educate" kids on how to properly behave or some other supposedly important life lesson. Most kids couldn't stand them and instead watched shows like Johnny Quest, The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Hour or Fred Ramsey's favorite - Hong Kong Phooey!  When the television studios realized that kids were not into "educational television" on a Saturday morning, they shifted their strategy and began producing "educational" commercials. These studios figured that kids needed to be "edumacated" and were not going to be denied their goals. With this in mind, these stations were going to ram "educational" cartoons/commercials down kids throats whether they wanted them or not!

This movement lead to a very popular "educational" commercial called School House Rock! School House Rock produced "educational" commercials such as I'm just a Bill, Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla, Interjections and Naughty Number 9. My personal favorite was Conjunction Junction, which featured Jack Sheldon singing Conjunction Junction what's your function!


It was amazing how such simple cartoons and songs left such lasting impressions on that generation. Most of us who grew up in that generation could sing the jingle verbatim or recite the lesson that was being taught. The cartoon and catchy songs embedded the "important" lessons deep into our thick skulls. While thinking about these simple cartoons and the educational lessons they had taught, I came across a video by Chris Rock which have some "educational" lessons for a generation that needs some simple rules to definitely live by. With everything that has been happening in Ferguson Missouri or New York, New York, Chris Rock's admonition and simple rules to us all can save lives and improve community relations between police and the communities in which they serve and leave a lasting impression upon us just like the School House Rock commercials.

***(Please be advised that the language in these videos is VERY course and should only be watched  with the understanding that they are trying to make a couple of very important points.) *** 




How often we can avoid unnecessary trouble if we would only use some common sense and remember some simple civil rules. The Bible tells us in Romans chapter 13:1-4:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.



Christmas season is supposedly a time for peace on earth and goodwill toward all men (and women). When we treat each other like we would want to be treated (I think I read that somewhere!) peace and joy are often the result. If we are contentious, law-breaking, and defiant toward each other (especially the police and those in authority), there is no telling what the end results may be. During this special time of the year, let us bring the "Interjection" of the message of peace to a world falling to pieces and not be like "Naughty Number Nine". May we continue to seek the kingdom of the Prince of Peace because it's "Elementary, My Dear!"

Stay Holy, My Friends!



Pastor Don

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Christmas Cheese!


With everything that has been happening in our country lately, I thought it might be a good time to bring a little holiday levity to the blogsphere table. If you are like me, then you're probably tired of watching people burn down their neighborhoods, exalt and canonize people who are law breakers, or pontificate to all of us about the real meaning of social justice and racism all the while lambasting police officers as racist bigots. There is only so much one can take before this constant clamor and rhetoric numb the mind and send the stomach into continuous convulsions. Popeye said it perfectly when he said, "That's all I can stands 'cuz I can't stands no more!"


To remedy all this insanity, I turned to the one source of comfort and encouragement that we Christians seem to turn to in tough times. No, it wasn't the Bible or Jesus. It was cable television! Where else can you combine ancient aliens, weather disasters, holiday cybersales or a quick emotional spiritual song from Jimmy Swaggart with just the press of a simple button? The wonders of television never cease to amaze me, and there is nothing like a trip down memory lane during the Christmas season to brighten one's mood and bring back a more properly focused mindset. Television can make that happen in a New York minute.

The other night, I came across an old Dragnet episode that I had never seen before. The episode was titled: Dragnet, The Big Little Jesus. It apparently was a very popular holiday episode back in the day, but had lost its sense of appeal to more modern Christmas specials such as A Very Brady Christmas or The Star Wars Holiday Special. I must admit, how can any old black and white Christmas special compete with shows like those? Even so, the Dragnet, The Big Little Jesus was such a popular Christmas special that it was even redone in 1967 with Harry Morgan playing the part of Bill Gannon.

While watching the old program, I couldn't help but think Mark Hogan probably wrote the script with its corny, stiff but serious one liners, its overly dramatic and dry acting, and its misplaced sense of police priorities. Leave it to an ex-fireman to capture lawmen at their finest!

I've downloaded the Dragnet program for your holiday enjoyment. Please watch it before finishing the blog!



When I was a police officer, I had a friend on the department who put out a Christmas creche every year in front of his house. He loved that Christmas creche and tended to it with great pride and dedication since he spent a large sum of money on it. When he would set it up each year, he would position each figure just right as to be seen by those traveling down the road. Lighting was essential to the proper display of his creche and any obstruction of it was immediately destroyed or carted away from his beautiful creation. He watched over his creche like a mother bird protecting its young from would-be thieves and constantly worried that something would happen to his precious baby Jesus. The reason he worried so much about his creche and baby Jesus was because he knew my sense of humor and knack for playing practical jokes. He had it in the back of his mind that I would "kidnap" his baby Jesus one day or night and hold him for ransom or deface him in some belligerent manner. I must admit, I did think about driving by his house very often and "stealing" his baby Jesus just for the joy of thinking about his reaction to seeing it GONE!




The reason I downloaded the Dragnet Christmas show and told you about my old friend's Christmas creche was to illustrate an important idea. "Jesus" has been taken out of the Christmas season in many instances, and the celebration has been replaced with emptiness, confusion, and a counterfeit sense of what the holiday is all about. Santa, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, or a host of other holiday impersonators have "stolen" or "replaced" the real Jesus and have provided us an empty and unfulfilled shell of the real celebration.

During the next few weeks, let's not let our "Jesus" get stolen or replaced. Let us be diligent in watching over our hearts and be ever mindful of the counterfeit impersonators who seek to distract our attention from the real meaning and celebration of Christmas. Although we have heard these cliches numerous times at this time of year, may we keep Christ in Christmas and may Jesus truly be the reason for the season!  


Stay Holy, My Friends and Merry Christmas!



Pastor Don


Friday, October 10, 2014

Maher Mayhem!


may·hem
ˈmāˌhem
noun

violent or damaging disorder; chaos
"complete mayhem broke out"
synonyms:chaos, disorder, havoc, bedlam, pandemonium, 
tumult, uproar, turmoil, commotion, all hell broken loose, maelstrom, trouble, disturbance, confusion,
riot, anarchy, violence, insanity, madness.


informalmadhouse
"no one would confess to how the mayhem started"
  • the crime of maliciously injuring or maiming someone,originally so as to render the victim defenseless.

Some of the funniest television commercials that I've seen in a long time are the Allstate Mayhem insurance commercials. The commercials develop an advertising theme that "Mayhem" is everywhere and that you need to be protected from it when "Mayhem" strikes you, your property, or someone else and money is going to be dished out to someone. If your insurance company is a "second rate" insurance company, your property or owed liability may not be covered like it would be if you were insured by Allstate. The commercials are brilliant in my humble opinion and drive home the point powerfully about proper and inclusive insurance for the times "Mayhem" strikes. Anyone who has dealt with an insurance company after some unforeseen disaster strikes can well understand the frustration of the disaster itself and the exasperation of dealing with insurance companies unwilling to cover your loss.




While recently watching a panel discussion on the Bill Maher show, the television commercials about "Mayhem" came to my mind. Bill Maher, for those unfamiliar with his cable syndicated television show, is a famous mouthpiece for the "political left" in this country. He supports almost every left wing cause and champions its support unabashedly on his Real Time with Bill Maher television program. He does from time to time cross the DMZ of leftist demarcation and questions leftist thinking or action/inaction on some social or political idea or movement. He describes himself as an agnostic and constantly lampoons religious ideas and actions. He paints with a very broad brush in his critiques of "religion," but is constantly pontificating about what is right and wrong.

The reason I thought about the "Mayhem" Allstate television commercial while watching Bill Maher's show was because of a "discussion" he had with Ben Affleck. Bill had a panel discussion with Sam Harris, Ben Affleck, Michael Steele, Nicholas Kristof, and himself about Islam and its teaching and political agenda. The only "conservative" voice on the panel was Michael Steele. Sam Harris, who himself is a card carrying liberal and a famous militant atheist, began rebuking liberals for their failure to speak out against "Islam" and the "liberal principals/rights" they deny their and other people. Sam was pointing out that liberals were inconsistent and selective when it came to criticizing Islam and their refusal to recognize "liberal" rights. Islam in the minds of many liberals somehow gets a break from any of their criticism. When Sam makes that point, "Mayhem" shows up in the person of Ben Affleck who wreaks "Mayhem" with the discussion. Watch the following clip and follow the "rational, respectful, and objective discussion" that ensues among these enlightened liberals and their ideas about Islam and its practitioners.




The problem with "liberal and much conservative thinking" is that it based on a humanistic determination of what is right or wrong. The ideas change with the times and what was once considered right is now wrong and vice versa. Feelings dominate the thinking and action of most of these people and as their feelings change, their thinking changes. Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:24-27 about this kind of thinking when he says:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

All thinking that is not based on the Bible as God's revealed word will crash when the rain falls, the flood comes, or the wind blows against it. Bill Maher and his panel of distinguished liberal guests are excellent examples of unfettered commentary about any subject that is not directed by the sure foundation that God's Word provides. Bill Maher's panel discussion is a small microcosm of what is happening in the "world" of popular ideas. When there is no objective standard to which an appeal can be judged, then one's opinion is just as valid or invalid as anyone else's opinion. Unfortunately or fortunately for Bill Maher, he is standing up for and defending a Biblical view of the world even though he doesn't know that's what he is really doing since he is inadvertently appealing to some sort of standard that he assumes everyone agrees with. When Ben Affleck begins to express his opinion and incredulity about Bill and Sam's views, "Mayhem" breaks out and liberal tolerance is exposed! 

As the Kingdom of God continues its world-conquering theological mission, all thoughts, ideas, and philosophies will be exposed for what they really are and left buried in the dust bin of tragic history. Debating with liberals and many conservatives about right/wrong, truth/lies, and correct/incorrect ways of life can be just like dealing with an insurance company representative when mayhem strikes - exasperating! As we continue to witness the collapse of knowledge that is falsely called that (1st Timothy 6:20), we can rest assured that our view of the world and its history is correct, is true, and will stand the test of time. These theological assumptions will continue to undermine our society and clash with those that seek to overthrow them in a very violent winner take-all battle. There will however, ultimately be only one winner. The question that needs to be asked is: When this "Mayhem" strikes, will you be in good hands?"




Stay Holy, My Friends!


Pastor Don

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Johnny Jam Boogie?


I'm always amazed and perplexed at what comes out of the mouth of some professing Christians when the spotlight is on them and they are given the opportunity to express an opinion on some particular topic. Pat Robertson and other "Christian leaders" have provided numerous memorable, perplexing, and brain-rattling quotes that have gone viral on the different social media outlets. Most of these quotes are not based on Biblical teachings and principals, but rather on human reasoning or feelings. It's no wonder that the "church" is mocked, ridiculed, and lampooned because of outrageous comments.


I was thinking about how Christians respond to these very important questions and seem to be out of sync and character with what the Bible really teaches. This question came to me clearly when I watched the Johnny Jam Boogie Snickers commercial starring Johnny Manziel - Heisman Trophy winner from 2013 and first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns. Those who follow Johnny Manziel's career are aware of his off-the-field exploits involving alcohol and women - a very powerful elixir combination for a young profession football player. The commercial I watched shows Johnny Manziel out of his "element" and teaching an aerobics class to a bunch of old women. He is portrayed as so out of character that one of his football teammates comes to his rescue and gives him a Snickers candy bar to eat. One bite from the candy bar and Johnny Jam Boogie turns back into his real self - Johnny Football. It's a humorous illustration of how out of character we all act if we are hungry.




The truth illustrated by this hilarious commercial is a great spiritual truth many of us still have not grasped. That truth is this: what you eat or don't eat affects what you say or do.

Recently, "Christian leaders" have spoken out about a particular subject and have reflected their own opinions or feelings instead of Biblical teachings or principles. Take for instance Joel Osteen's wife Victoria Osteen whose recent comments brought swift and critical comments from the "Christian" community at large. Mrs. Osteen suggested that God receives the greatest joy when we are happy. Is that really what the Bible teaches? Bill Cosby's response to her "preaching" pretty much sums up her theology and my feelings about her comments.




Or take for instance the famous "Christian worship/entertainer" Michael Gungor whose "insightful revelation" as to what Jesus might have taught or thought only reinforced the perception of many that many Christian entertainers lack any sensible and credible theological foundation in their music, art, or lives.

Lisa and Michael Gungor of the Christian band Gungor

“I think you’re making a lot of assumptions based in a perspective that was handed to you from our culture, and the way we think in the modern world is very different than how people thought in the pre-modern world,” Gungor said during the program.
“To just see a few words that somebody said, that Jesus said about Noah, and you assume that you can get into Jesus’ mind and know exactly how he thought about the whole situation, and how He considered history versus myth versus whatever – how do you know?”
And even if He was wrong, even if He did believe that Noah was a historical person, or Adam was a historical person, and ended up being wrong, I don’t understand how that even would deny the divinity of Christ. The whole idea of the divinity of Christ being fully human and fully God, that God lowered Himself to become a human being with a human brain, in a human culture with human language and human needs and human limitations,” he explained.
The point is it wouldn’t freak me out if He was wrong about it, in His human side. But I still don’t see the issue. If Noah and Adam were mythical ideas, the point of what Jesus was saying still applies to me. … It has very little to do, in my perspective, with Jesus trying to lay out a history of the world for a historical-minded people. Even if Jesus knew that Noah and Adam were mythical, but knew He was talking to people who thought they were real, that’s another possibility. Jesus was just referring to a story he was part of to these Jewish people that know that story,” added Gungor.


When Christians speak authoritatively about a subject to the world, the content sure had better be scripturally sound. To voice an opinion contrary to what the scriptures declare is a very dangerous practice to initiate. I'm sure we all make mistakes or misspeak at times about what the Bible actually teaches, but when in doubt, maybe our policy should be to keep our mouths closed. Spouting silly platitudes and expounding philosophically about what Jesus thought or taught contrary to the scriptures is like Johnny Football leading old women in aerobics. It's out of character, odd, and confusing to those who know what you have been really called to do. When we find ourselves or our brothers and sisters acting in a strange and peculiar way, maybe its time for a Snickers bar!
 

Stay Holy and Hungry, My Friends!



Pastor Don