September 08, 2022
Volume 52 - No. 37
by lyle e davis
This cover story started out the way most cover stories start out. As an idea.
The idea: How could I, a notorious heathen, possibly comment upon the various Christian churches in North San Diego County? And to what purpose?
Well, the answer to the first question was easy. I would start going The Paper - 760.747.7119
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to church. Regularly. Yes, I’m fully aware that many of my family and friends who know me and my often anti-cleric stands, who know of my many years of following Deism, and, more recently, the basic tenets of the Baha’i, would likely suffer fits of apoplexy (the old time word for cerebrovascular accident; seldom used anymore except by cranky old, curmudgeonly editors who enjoy confusing his readers with obsolete words. Today, it generally means “a state of extreme rage or excitement.”)
So far, none of my family or friends have suffered a fatal seizure at the mere mention of lyle crossing the threshold of a church. The second question is also easy to address.
We absolutely love Joel Osteen, the handsome, smiling, television preacher who appears in the San Diego market every Sunday morning at 9am on ABC television (KGTV). He is an eloquent speaker, well prepared, always inspiring,
The God Show Continued on Page 2
always with just enough humor to bring forth a chuckle or two as well as a frequent smile, if not outright laughter. And, wonder of wonders! He gives his total message within a 30 minute time period! Would that more pastors attained that goal! All too many pastors are way too long winded . . . even the good ones. Memo to Pastors: Keep your sermons to 30 minutes. Maximum.
We absolutely love great preachers . . . such as the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and the late Dr.