Posted on March 10, 2008 - by Calvin L. Smith

Englishman Near New York (10)

Well, it’s Monday and I was up very early (still jetlagged). Talking of which, I just realised I am about to experience firsthand the concept of time travel. On Saturday night here the clocks went forward, which meant getting up an hour earlier for church (and we all know how that feels). But back in the UK the clocks don’t go forward for another week or two, so when I return I have to go through it all over again! (groan). How mad is that?

Anyway, I’m in a restaurant again having breakfast (clocks are four hours behind now, not five, from the time indicated on each of these posts). Am enjoying my bottomless cup of coffee, which is practically standard everywhere here. I’ve had about sixteen cups already and there is a dull whining sound in my ears! (Feel like singing that song, I believe I can fly.) They also have what they call “bottomless pancakes” in this particular restaurant, which sounds well enough if you are my wife, but I hate the things. How can anyone start the day with sweet food? Uuurgh. Will let you know when I find a bottomless dish of bacon together with a large bottle of Tabasco, but that will probably only be in Heaven.

It has been very cold here, around -10 C at night (around 14 F), and rarely rising above freezing during the day. We had around 10 inches of snow on Saturday, and naturally people were away from church on Sunday, while like back in the UK the less spiritual forgetful did not take the time change into account. Nonetheless there were still some 300+ people at church out of a congregation of 450-500 normally. Great to speak in a large church like this. It really does affect how you speak and what you do. I always find speaking to a very small number can be more difficult than a crowd, which is usually far more receptive. If you tell a bad joke there are always people who will laugh, but in front of a handful that is not always the case!

The church I spoke in was lovely. Huge hall, lovely thick carpets, great acoustics, worship band, lighting etc etc. They take church very seriously here. That is not to say everything is done right in churches in this country, it isn’t. And one of the things they do is take for granted their current freedoms and strong presence, although I believe they too will soon face having their freedom to say certain things curtailed by a liberal elite, just as we have back in the UK. But as I said, they take church seriously. Here in Toledo, for example, there are so many large churches of 500+ people. Spirituality itself means very little – one can be into spiritual things but totally hate God (eg the occult) -  but there is no denying there is a far stronger sense of spirituality here than in Europe, which is deeply secular. There is so much Christian radio broadcasting on so many subjects it is quite astounding. Toledo has dozens upon dozens of FM stations and a large proportion are broadcasting Christian material 24 hours a day.

Anyway, must get back to my bottomless cup of coffee. More later.