I used to not have time to read the paper before heading to Sunday School and church, but these days, with a job that sends me to churches all over the five-parish area to preach or to visit, the schedule often allows for leisurely mornings with the paper. Today, I’m preaching at West St. Charles Baptist Church at Boutte at 10:45 am. I recommend these quiet mornings.

Why we read obituaries.

Now, my mama reads the obituaries in her Daily Mountain Eagle to see if she knows the people who died, and as a nearly 91-year-old native of Walker County, Alabama, she frequently does. We pastors read them to make certain we stay current with deaths in our extended church family. But there’s another reason: many are just interesting.

Here is the opening sentence in an obituary in today’s paper: “Helen (Pearlie) Marie Falcon Gallagher of New Orleans, LA, completed the long goodbye on March 14, 2007, at the age of 85 in Tulsa, OK, her city of residence since September 2005.” That being the date of the evacuation from Katrina. “Completed the long goodbye.” Fascinating. Wonder what they meant.

The article goes on to identify her as a “WW II Navy wife” and “family keeper of written memories.” Every clan needs such a keeper; I hope yours has one.

Most of the obits are fairly vanilla, but occasionally gleams of gold shine through. John Cosmo Centanni was 80 when he died on March 14, and as a Marine in World War II received the Purple Heart for his service on Iwo Jima. Best I can figure out, he would have been 18 years old at the time of that battle. Not doubting the report, just noting it. Toward the end of the obit is this: “He was very generous and loving. He loved his wife and children more than anything in the world. His larger than life personality touched many people. He loved life. We will miss his love every day that goes by. Daddy, you did it your way.”

Saturday, I was entering Home Depot at the same time an elderly gentleman came in pushing a cart. He was really dressed up–sports coat, white shirt, tie, etc. I said, “Sir, you are one of the few people who know the right way to dress when you come to Home Depot!” He smiled and said, “I just came from the funeral parlor.” I said, “Oh. God bless you, sir.”

My brother Ron reads obituaries looking for his name. He found it the other day. To his surprise, he was listed as the officiating minister at the funeral of someone in the North Birmingham area. So, he showed up and preached the funeral.

Why we read headlines.

Headlines are written by editors who scan the articles and try to find a few appropriate words to sum up the contents. “Christian Life too much for Cajuns” is the one that caught my eye this morning. Turns out that, instead of commenting on the inability of native French Louisianians to live up to the demands of Christ, it’s just a report on a high school basketball game. The Christian Life Crusaders had whipped the Cajuns of Country Day in a tournament.

Living in Catholic country where every other school has a name like Holy Mother or Sacred Heart, you get some weird sports headlines. Like “Holy Name of Jesus destroys Our Lady of Prompt Succor.”

My all-time favorite headline is one from that above-named Jasper, Alabama, newspaper from perhaps 40 years ago. Governor George Wallace was throwing his weight behind a legislative bill to create or assist a mental hospital somewhere. “Governor committed to mental institution,” the headline read.

I suppose it’s a little late to send that one in to Jay Leno.

Why we read the editorial page.

I expect most of us read that page for the letters column, and only secondarily to see what our editors think of something or other. Today, for example, 92-year-old Corin Zollinger of Metairie writes in to urge that our imprisoned former governor Edwin Edwards be turned loose. Imprisoned maybe 5 years ago for racketeering in the sale of casino licenses, Edwards was a four-term governor and a scamp if one ever existed. (“A knave, a rogue, a rascal.” I looked the word up.) In fact, in 1992, when the run-off was between Edwards and KKKer David Duke, bumper stickers urged people to “Vote for the Crook; it’s important.”

Edwards and his son Stephen were convicted and thrown into prison for a number of years. The former governor is 80 now, I think, and a recent op-ed piece by James Gill urged that he be released, that he has suffered enough. That drew several letters to the editor, one saying as soon as he admits what he did, we should think about that, but right now he’s still protesting his innocence.

Corin Zollinger says Edwards has learned his lesson and could benefit New Orleans in its recovery. Now, I would never think of contacting this person to argue with him or her. So I’ll confine my opinion to this blog.

Both parts of her statement are apparently way wrong. From a recent Times-Picayune interview with Edwards at his prison, it’s obvious he has learned nothing. He’s still the same “Peck’s bad boy,” and how in the world he could help this city recover is beyond me. This is the governor who singlehandedly reinforced the bad image the world has about Louisiana politics by his shenanigans and corruption.

I am not a merciless person, but I say let him stay where he is. Louisiana is better off with him out of the picture, out of politics, and out of commission.

One last thing.

Our police have recently announced they are going to move the emphasis from small crimes to big-ticket items such as armed robbery and murder. What I don’t understand is why they would announce it. Do it, okay. But don’t sent out a notice to petty crooks everywhere that the city is now open for your business.

Now, Police Superintendent Warren Riley has announced that from now on, when someone calls 911 to report a crime, the caller may expect the police to show up at his door. No matter if they had called to squeal on a drug transaction on the corner, the cops are reserving the right to come to the home of the person who called. Forget anonymity. My guess is that Chief Riley has just taken steps to assure the number of informant calls goes way down.

Fleming Rutledge once wrote a book of her sermons by the title “The Bible and the New York Times.” I can’t recall who first gave this advice to preachers, but it has been said that the man in the pulpit should have the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. (The woman too, Fleming.)

Tying the news of the day to the revelation of the ages. Sounds right to me.

This afternoon at the FBC of Westwego, we’re ordaining Mike Sibley to the gospel ministry. Mike is a big guy in many ways, particularly in his heart for God and his servant spirit. Jay Adkins is the pastor.

Tuesday, the First Baptist Church of Covington is hosting its annual Senior Citizens event–I forget what they call it. Tom Lester of Laurel, MS–he was “Eb” on the “Green Acres” TV show–and I will be among the speakers. I love Tom. He’s a wonderful Christian brother and lots of fun. When I did a revival at FBC Laurel some years ago, he was the most faithful member there. Great, positive attitude.

I think I’d go even if they didn’t put me on the program!