Follow Our Trip [March 2018]

During the University at Buffalo’s spring break, I had the privilege of driving 7 students and another CA staff member to Texas to do disaster relief for Hurricane Harvey.

One of my favorite things I like to do during a trip is to give clues along the way to what path we are taking. So, now that the trip is done, I am going to present the clues all at once, and then offer the answers and my explanations.

If you like maps, get one out and follow along.

1  Bison country                   

2  North of Namibia

3  Lake, city, canal, county?

4  Sage, sensei

5  Not a woman’s piece of earth

6  Christopher’s town

7  Baseball’s crimson

8  Her majesty’s village

9  Playing ten pins in St. Paddy’s color

10  Why would you want to live with predators?

11  Did they name the town after #7?

12  St. Jude likes it here

13  Roll river roll

14  Not east Memphis

15  #42 was governor here

16  Noah’s city?

17  Come on now, just what state do you belong to?

18  What what? I thought we were in Texas, not Georgia

19  Louisiana purchaser

20  John, Thurgood, enforcer of the law

21  Mercury, Gemini, Apollo

22  Sweet earth

23  Spouse of Prince Albert, mother of Edward VII

24  This is not like Oregon at all…

25  Solid mineral harbor

26  Barbara Mandrell’s younger sister

27  Some people need to eat this kind of pie

28  #22 & #24

29  I thought we were at Walmart headquarters, but we are missing the “ville.”

30  Bass Pro Shop is shaped like a pyramid – appropriate for this Egyptian city

31  Fort Nashborough

32  Its water tower says, “Florence Y’all”

33  It’s not the Kentucky River

34  Paris of America

35  I am fairly sure that Jayne was not from here.

36  Unlike Worcester, MA, the people of this town pronounce the name of their town the way it is spelled.

37  This is not Switzerland (or New York)…

38  Not South West

39  Most of us had one when we ate at Steak & Shake.

40  College at Beautiful Water

Now for the answers:

1  BUFFALO, NY

Ironically, buffalo/bison have never lived in this area of the country, except in private ownership or a zoo

2  ANGOLA, NY

In Africa, the country north of Namibia is Angola

3  ERIE, PA

Lake, city, canal, county? Lake Erie, Erie PA, Erie Canal, Erie Country

4  MENTOR, OH

Sage, sensei are synonyms for mentor

5  MANSFIELD, OH

Not a woman’s piece of earth

6  COLUMBUS, OH

Christopher’s town

7  CINCINNATI, OH

Baseball’s crimson – the Cincinnati Reds

8  ELIZABETHTOWN, KY

Her majesty’s village

9  BOWLING GREEN, KY

Playing ten pins in St. Paddy’s color

10  NASHVILLE, TN

Why would you want to live with predators? Nashville’s hockey team is called the Predators

11  JACKSON, TN

Did they name the town after #7? When you see me just refer to a number, it is most likely I am referring to a president. Remember that.

12  MEMPHIS, TN

St. Jude likes it here. The famous children’s cancer hospital founded by Danny Thomas is located here.

13  MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Roll river roll

14  WEST MEMPHIS, AR

Not east Memphis – please don’t tell me you could not get this one.

15  LITTLE ROCK, AR

#42 was governor here. This would be Bill Clinton’s job before he became president

16  ARKADELPHIA

Noah’s city? – OK, that was a bit of a stretch.

17  TEXARKANA, AR or TX

Come on now, just what state do you belong to? This is a city that literally exists on the state borders.

18  ATLANTA, TX

What what? I thought we were in Texas, not Georgia. Who knew there was another Atlanta?

19  JEFFERSON, TX

Louisiana purchaser – Perhaps I just should have said “#3”

20  MARSHALL, TX

John, Thurgood, enforcer of the law – John Marshall – first Supreme Court justice; Thurgood Marshall – first African-American Supreme Court justice

21  HOUSTON, TX

Mercury, Gemini, Apollo – These are references to the first manned space flights by NASA, which is headquartered in Houston

22  SUGAR LAND, TX

Sweet earth

23  VICTORIA, TX

Spouse of Prince Albert, mother of Edward VII

24  PORTLAND, TX

This is not like Oregon at all… I know, I could have said Maine too.

25  ROCKPORT, TX

Solid mineral harbor – This is the first landing place of Hurricane Harvey and where Samaritan’s Purse’s headquarters for this disaster relief is located.

26  LOUISE, TX

Barbara Mandrell’s younger sister – I know this was a tough one, but there are not many famous Louises about.

27  HUMBLE, TX

Some people need to eat this kind of pie

28  CLEVELAND, TX

#22 & #24 – It is the president thing again. Grover Cleveland was the only president to serve two terms non-consecutively

29  BENTON, AR

I thought we were at Walmart headquarters, but we are missing the “ville.” Bentonville, AR is the headquarters for Walmart. Benton is not near it.

30  MEMPHIS, TN

Bass Pro Shop is shaped like a pyramid – appropriate for this Egyptian city. Memphis was an ancient Egyptian city.

31  NASHVILLE, TN

Fort Nashborough  Before it was Nashville, it was this.

32  FLORENCE, KY

Its water tower says, “Florence Y’all”  Please don’t tell me you missed this…

33  OHIO RIVER

It’s not the Kentucky River.  Perhaps it should be.

34  CINCINNATI, OH

Paris of America – I don’t know why Cincy has this nickname, but it does.

35  MANSFIELD, OH

I am fairly sure that Jayne was not from here. This was an allusion to Jayne Mansfied. If you don’t know who she is, never mind.

36  Wooster, OH

Unlike Worcester, MA, the people of this town pronounce the name of their town the way it is spelled. This is probably my favorite. The people in MA actually pronounce it Woostah, because as I like to say, “New Englanders add r’s that aren’t and ignore the r’s that are.”

37  GENEVA, OH

This is not Switzerland (or New York)…

38  NORTH EAST, PA

Not South West

39  HAMBURG, NY

Most of us had one when we ate at Steak & Shake.

40  UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, NY

College at Beautiful Water – Some people believe that Buffalo’s name actually was a reference to Lake Erie from the French, “Beau l’eau” (beautiful water).

My Philadelphia Eagles Story

Many years ago, we lived in the Philadelphia area. We were thirtysomethings at the time and we enjoyed living there. We had hoped it would be longer, but our service to Grace Bible Church lasted a short six years (1991-1997).

As fond as we were of the area, there was one thing I had no liking for whatsoever. They were called Eagles fans.

Since the time we lived there, it seems to only have deteriorated. If you want examples, just look at the videos of how Eagles fans treated visiting Vikings fan before the Conference Finals. When I observed the middle finger salutes along with screaming obscenities, it reminded me why I never felt safe wearing opposing team gear outside my own home.

I would say the cited behavior was downright childish, but I find children behave better than that. They are hardly examples of what it is to be the “city of brotherly love.” Never was a city so misnamed.

Of course, it was worse on Sunday evening when Philadelphia fans took to the streets after winning the Super Bowl. They set fires in the middle of streets, toppled light poles by City Hall, tipped cars over, and broke into convenience stores with the declaration “everything is free!”

I have many friends who are Eagles fans, and certainly, they were not the ones doing such things. I do worry for them though. That city and that football team combine together to do some very strange things to people. I can’t help but wonder if this combination causes a virus to infiltrate their brains and cause them to be irrational.

I first noted this issue back in the nineties. When one of the young men in our church found out I was a Buffalo Bills fan, he could hardly contain his glee. “Did you know that the Bills lost four Super Bowls in a row?” I am hardly proud of this fact, but did he really think that I had somehow missed this news?

He then proceeded to inform me of their incompetence, unworthiness, and how overrated they were. I was tempted to defend my beloved Bills, after all, just making it to the Super Bowl is a worthy accomplishment. Making it to four in a row seems even more noteworthy. Nevertheless, it seems this fine fellow was not ready for such rational thought.

So, instead I responded with, “Well, at least we have lost three more than you have.”

He opened his mouth and extended his arm as if he was about to say something, but no words came out. After an awkward moment of silence, his arm came down and his mouth closed and he walked away.

Since that inauspicious event for the young man, the Eagles returned again to the Super Bowl during the 2004-2005 season with Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens, and lost again. So I still could say, “Well, at least we have lost two more than you have.”

This year, I was caught. Did I dare root for the Eagles and lose my classic line? Or did I dare root for the Bills archenemy, the Patriots? This dilemma was mind-boggling.

In the end, how could I not root for Nick Foles, Zach Ertz, Carson Wentz, and Doug Pederson? They are men of integrity who live out their faith, in the midst of a competitive and demanding game. I admit, I respect that.

So, what can I say to the Eagles fan? “Well, at least we have been to one more Super Bowl than you have?” It’s all I got left. It’ll have to do, I guess.

The Bills Made the Playoffs

If you are not from Buffalo and its environs, it might be hard to understand the mentality of those of us from Western New York. So, I thought I might add some of my random thoughts to all the good-natured hysteria we are experiencing.

1. I believe the typical Bills fan does not expect that we will go far into the playoffs. We are just glad to get there, because like they say, "You never know."

2. The person I admire the most on this team is Kyle Williams. He has demonstrated a loyalty to the Buffalo area that is seldom experienced in professional sports, and since he is from Louisiana, it makes it all the more remarkable. He has been with us since 2006 and at the "old" age of 34, he started every game this year.

Thank you to the Buffalo Bills for putting his touchdown play in the playbook. No one...NO ONE...deserved it more. One unintelligent sports writer made a comment about the fat guy taking it into the end zone. I am going to say this as kindly as I can, "You are an idiot." There is not an ounce of fat on that man's body. He is 300 pounds of muscle.

No doubt he is my favorite because he expresses Christian values in his speech and in his walk. The way he talks about his faith, his wife, and his family is just too unusual in today's culture. He is definitely one of the good guys.

When I asked him once who he liked to "sack" the most, he said unequivocally "Tom Brady." It seems that Tom has a special place in his heart, because they seem to meet up at least once every time they play against each other.

3. No offense intended to Rex Ryan, who at the very least was entertaining, but this time we hired someone who knows how to coach a team. Sean McDermott has been better than expected. Unlike Rex, McDermott is judicious with his words and realizes that it is about the team, and not him. He also comes across as a humble man, which scores all kinds of points with me.

4. Contrary to what others think, I believe the benching of Tyrod Taylor was needed because he was not playing up to his potential. One thing is for sure, at the end of the season, we were seeing the same Tyrod we saw at the beginning of the season.

So kudos to Tyrod for responding positively to the benching and not being a jerk about it.

5. Thank you to the Cincinnati Bengals for playing football the way it is supposed to be played. Thank you for not laying down and settling for a better draft pick. Thank you for being a team one could respect on what could have been defined as a meaningless game.

Now, if you would just remove Vontaze Burfict from your team, who I think is a cancer on the league...

6. I keep hearing that the Bills are in the playoffs because of the Bengals. I beg to differ. We are in because of what we accomplished. We had the better record than the Ravens. Ravens could have pushed ahead of us. They did not. So we are in and they are not. There you go.

7. Finally, yes, we Bills fans are much aware of our Super Bowl record of losing four in a row during the 1990s. We still think it was an unbelievable accomplishment to get there four seasons in a row. When you laugh about it, we don't. We don't think it is funny at all.

It does remind me of the time when we were living in the Philadelphia area, that an Eagles fan from the church we served in wanted to remind me that we had just lost our fourth Super Bowl in a row. He thought it was so funny. The Bills were so incompetent. They were an embarrassment to the NFL.

I quietly responded, "Well, at least we have lost three more Super Bowls than you have."

He stood there for a moment with his mouth open, and then just walked away.

So, as my granddaughter says so earnestly, "Go Bills!"

I Don't Miss the Hymns

I don't miss the hymns.

And it is not the reason that you think.

They never left me.

As a former senior pastor, I can tell you that people complained to me a lot about the lack of hymns during the worship services. Honestly, it was tiring. It was wearing. It was annoying. I don't miss it at all.

I now attend a church that sings songs that are consistently more recent. I don't mind it at all. As many of you know, I have always been a "next generation" type of guy and I am always in favor in doing what attracts the unbelieving 20-something into the church.

Since music is consistently an attractive mechanism, I like hearing music that the 20-something connects with. It is not necessarily because I like the music (though more often than not, I do), but because I like watching young people worship God with everything they've got. To me, that is exciting!

Don't misunderstand me though. I love the hymns. I grew up with them. Some I like because they bring back memories of when my faith was new. Some I like because they are powerful communicators of truth.

But, I don't miss them. I still have them. And I sing them. A lot. They are a part of my personal worship every day. Every day! I sing them out loud and boldly. Ask Dondra. She will tell you. On any given morning, you might hear me belting A Mighty Fortress Is Our God or Holy! Holy! Holy! or Blessed Assurance.

I will always have them, because I have disciplined myself to memorize the words. As a result, they are saturating my soul. Interestingly, I find them more powerful than ever.

Remember, the church is not about you. It is about mission. In that sense, I think we should always be looking of how to effectively reach the next generation and not get stuck on how we used to do it, or even worse, on the way I like it.

I will offer one word of encouragement to pastors and worship leaders. Throw a hymn (or a Christmas Carol) in there once in a while. The reason why is not to appease us older folks, but because of the phenomena it creates. I have noticed that it brings the seasoned saints alive during the worship and they sing with gusto because it is something they recognize.

Literally, I have observed a spark that we older folks need from time to time. It is our testimony! And it is worth the younger folks hearing it. They may even discover why we love our old hymns. I believe that you will find it adds to the worship, not detract from it, and it will add to the participation of all involved.

Please feel free to respond!

Paul J. Decker


I love the old hymns.
Let the Spirit reveal the new song!
Don't be an old fogie.

Dear "Not My President" Protesters

Dear "Not My President" Protesters,

Welcome to the club. I understand what you are feeling. But as you come in to our organization, please note that I am resigning.

For your information, I have been saying the same thing about President Obama for the last 8 years as he has consistently pushed forward an agenda that did not represent all Americans. You are now discovering how the people of the United States handle this kind of situation. We call it voting.

Nevertheless, do note that I treat the office with respect and refer to our president as President Obama. I respect our country and our democratic process, even though it has tons of flaws.

For the protesters that are rioting...good luck with that. You should note that you show more about your own character than the person you are supposedly protesting. It is my hope that you will use your energy for something more useful and productive to make the country better. What you are doing now will accomplish very little and if you destroy property and hurt people, do note that jail cells are cold.

Sincerely,

Paul J. Decker

Not a rioter.
Not excited about President-Elect Trump.
Don't blame me. I wanted Ben Carson. It's not brain surgery.
Michael Pence for President!

My Vote Is for...

I have finally decided who to vote for in this election. It is just in time. We vote tomorrow as a nation.

I don't apologize for my political leanings. They make sense to me. I am a conservative, both socially and economically. Most of the time, I find myself falling in line with the Republican platform.

I don't believe in big government, and for the record, I don't trust big business  I trust big government even less.

I have toyed with the idea of not voting for either major candidate. I would go and vote, I just wouldn't vote for Clinton or Trump. It would be a vote of "no confidence" in this election.

I am not voting for HRC. I get as far as her abortion stance and I am done. Call me a one issue voter if you prefer, but it is such a fundamental issue. To call the result of conception anything less than a person defies science and common sense. Add to this, issues of integrity and an attitude of superiority that rivals Donald Trump, and there is just no way. If you think she is more qualified because of her experience, I laugh. Experience yes. Incompetence, a bigger yes.

I am not voting for any third party candidate. I've considered it. There is no candidate or platform that has caught my attention or interest.

So, now the reveal...

I am voting for Mike Pence. He is the only candidate that truly represents my values and has lived these same values. I recognize that Pence has some undesirable baggage. His connection to Trump is hugely unfortunate. You may mark my words. I believe Pence will be president if Trump is elected.

Trump is bound to implode. Though he has shown some discipline with his tongue lately, he will not be able to hold it together. His mouth will get him into trouble sooner or later, and he will not be able to talk his way out of it. It will be bad enough that impeachment proceedings will occur. Resignation will be inevitable.

You may think this is just hopeful thinking. I disagree. I believe the evidence points to it.

I don't look forward to the mess Trump will bring, but I do look forward to a president that will lead with integrity and courage.

Pence for President!

Dangerous Prayers

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Susan asks Mr. Beaver an important question about Aslan the lion. Aslan is the God-like character in the stories. The conversation about Aslan goes like this.

Susan:  Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.
Mr. Beaver:  Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.

We serve a King who isn’t safe, but He’s good. When we pray, our prayers shouldn’t be safe; they should be good, big, and dangerous like God. We tend to come to God with our dirty laundry, or our laundry list of what He can do for us. What if we came asking what we could do for Him? That’d be dangerous. And that’d take action on our part because it would push us out of our comfort zone. Maybe it is time to finally pray prayers that are dangerous!

Resource: YouVersion, “Dangerous Prayers”