I wrote a letter to the President elect and posted it before I had a chance to copy it for posting here. It is probably obvious what it said. I wish he would have picked someone else. Perhaps Martin Marty or even Ken Vaux, a professor at G-ETS who advised the President-elect during the election. But, he picked Rev. Warren. Here is some info I picked up from a Facebook group. I urge everyone to write to voice their disapproval. Even if you don't support gay-marriage, I think you might agree that Pastor Warren's linkage of gay marriage with incest and polygamy is a bit too extreme.
Here's the text from the Facebook page:
Divisive, homophobic Saddleback Church minister Rick Warren has been invited to give President Elect Obama's inaugural invocation.
HERE'S WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ON GAY UNIONS:
Rick Warren: But the issue to me is, I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to the redefinition of a 5,000-year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage.
Steven Waldman: Do you think, though, that they are equivalent to having gays getting married?
Rick Warren: Oh I do.
DOES THIS REPRESENT THE CHANGE YOU VOTED FOR? DOES THIS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE INCLUDED IN THIS SYMBOLIC DAY OF NEW BEGINNINGS? YOU CAN TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW:
1. CALL 202-540-3000 , press "2," speak with a live person
2. SEND a letter letting the transition team know what you think here http://change.gov/page/content/contact, and
3. EMAIL Parag Mehta, Obama's LGBT liaison on the transition team at parag.mehta@ptt.gov.
Hello readers!
I'm finishing up papers for my second to last full semester of MA studies at G-ETS. I'm pondering my future. Employment? More School? Something in between? One of my final papers is on my theology of suffering. I'll post some of it here for your reading pleasure.
In the meantime. Grace and Peace to you and enjoy this:
In the meantime. Grace and Peace to you and enjoy this:
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die
READ THIS TOO!!!!!!!
Here's the link.
Here's the text:
Here's the text:
James Dobson, you owe America an apology. The fictional letter released through your Focus on the Family Action organization, titled “Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America”, crosses all lines of decent public discourse. In a time of utter political incivility, it shows the kind of negative Christian leadership that has become so embarrassing to so many of your fellow Christians in America. We are weary of this kind of Christian leadership, and that is why so many are forsaking the Religious Right in this election.
This letter offers nothing but fear. It apocalyptically depicts terrorist attacks in American cities, churches losing their tax exempt status for not allowing gay marriages, pornography pushed in front of our children, doctors and nurses forced to perform abortions, euthanasia as commonplace, inner-city crime gone wild because of lack of gun ownership, home schooling banned, restricted religious speech, liberal censorship shutting down conservative talk shows, Christian publishers forced out of business, Israel nuked, power blackouts because of environmental restrictions, brave Christian resisters jailed by a liberal Supreme court, and finally, good Christian families emigrating to Australia and New Zealand.
It is shocking how thoroughly biblical teachings against slander—misrepresentations that damage another’s reputation—are ignored (Ephesians 4:29-31, Colossians 3:8, Titus 3:2). Such outrageous predictions not only damage your credibility, they slander Barack Obama who, you should remember, is a brother in Christ, and they insult any Christian who might choose to vote for him.
Let me make this clear: Christians will be voting both ways in this election, informed by their good faith, and based on their views of what are the best public policies and direction for America. But in utter disrespect for the prayerful discernment of your fellow Christians, this letter stirs their ugliest fears, appealing to their worst impulses instead of their best.
Fear is the clear motivator in the letter; especially fear that evangelical Christians might vote for Barack Obama. The letter was very revealing when it suggested that “younger Evangelicals” became the “swing vote” that elected Obama and the results were catastrophic.
You make a mistake when you assume that younger Christians don’t care as much as you about the sanctity of life. They do care—very much—but they have a more consistent ethic of life. Both broader and deeper, it is inclusive of abortion, but also of the many other assaults on human life and dignity. For the new generation, poverty, hunger, and disease are also life issues; creation care is a life issue; genocide, torture, the death penalty, and human rights are life issues; war is a life issue. What happens to poor children after they are born is also a life issue.
The America you helped vote into power has lost its moral standing in the world, and even here at home. The America you told Christians to vote for in past elections is now an embarrassment to Christians around the globe, and to the children of your generation of evangelicals. And the vision of America that you still tell Christians to vote for is not the one that many in a new generation of Christians believes expresses their best values and convictions.
Christians should be committed to the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of America, and the church is to live an alternative existence of love and justice, offering a prophetic witness to politics. Elections are full of imperfect choices where we all seek to what is best for the “common good” by applying the values of our faith as best we can.
Dr. Dobson, you of course have the same right as every Christian and every American to vote your own convictions on the issues you most care about, but you have chosen to insult the convictions of millions of other Christians, whose own deeply held faith convictions might motivate them to vote differently than you. This epistle of fear is perhaps the dying gasp of a discredited heterodoxy of conservative religion and conservative politics. But out of that death, a resurrection of biblical politics more faithful to the whole gospel—one that is truly good news—might indeed be coming to life.
VOTE SMART
There are several very important issues on the Illinois ballot that I urge you to look into before you vote.
1. The ballot initiative to redo the Illinois State Constitution.
You can find arguments Pro and Con here: http://www.lwvil.org/ConCon.asp
I am very much against it for several reasons.
1. The potential benefits are outweighed by the cost.
a. The State is already in a deficit why spend more on this?
b. Even if the State had the money, couldn’t we spend it in other places? Like education, poverty elimination programs…?
2. The issues that will be addressed by the “Con-Con” can be and in many cases are being addressed through legislation.
3. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
a. We have our problems, but they are not Constitutional ones!
2. Judicial appointments
In Illinois, our Judges are elected. It is a long and tedious process in the ballot box. As a former litigation paralegal, I can tell you that having qualified judges on the bench is critical to the judicial process. It is very important to know for whom you are voting! However, researching each individual judge would be impossible. Each year, I use the ISBA’s guide. You can find it here: http://www.isba.org/judicialevaluations/cook/12.asp
(This is for Evanston only. For the rest of Illinois, go here: http://www.isba.org/judicialevaluations/index.html
Print it out and take it into the voting booth with you!
Be an educated voter. The Tribune Website has a wonderful website that allows you to see the ballot before you go in the voting booth. Use it! You can find it on their homepage here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/
I got this from UMC-GBCS
An Urgent Plea to Clergy to Petition to Save Troy Davis' Life
Dear Jay,
Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed by the state of Georgia on October 27 at 7 pm, even though serious claims of innocence have never been heard in court.
Clergy can take action today and sign a petition that encourages Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to prevent this execution. If you are clergy, or if you can urge your pastor to sign the letter (shown below), please contact Brian Evans with Amnesty International who is collecting the information. Brian's email is bevans@aiusa.org and his phone number is 202-544-0200, ext. 496. Please include your name, title, church name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Please act now as the deadline for signing on is October 23rd.
Be sure to spread this to friends, family, and fellow church members to help spare Troy Davis' life.
About Troy Davis
Troy Davis was convicted of murder solely on the basis of testimony by witnesses. Seven of the nine non-police witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony, with several implicating possible police coercion. However, due to an increasingly restrictive appeals process, none of this new evidence has ever been heard in court. You can find out more about Troy Davis here.
Clergy Letter to Governor Perdue
Dear Governor Perdue,
We the undersigned clergy write to you as the chief political leader of your state. As leaders in our respective faith communities, we all find within our teachings a divine directive to support justice in the world and to uphold the sacredness of life. As Governor, you too bear a responsibility to support and promote justice for the people of Georgia. As such, our faith compels us to share with you our concern for Troy Anthony Davis, who faces execution by the state of Georgia on behalf of its citizens.
Almost twenty years ago, a police officer was tragically murdered in Savannah. We are deeply troubled that an innocent man may be executed for this awful crime. Should the state of Georgia carry out the execution of Troy Davis on October, 27, it is possible that justice will be denied for both Davis and Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
We are distressed by the inability of the appeals courts to provide a hearing or new trial to examine evidence that Troy Davis did not murder Mark MacPhail. We are distressed that in a case based solely on witness testimony the unprecedented number of witness recantations has not impressed the courts enough to re-examine the case. We are distressed that the appeals process has become so restrictive that the bar for proving innocence has become virtually unattainable. Finality and procedure must never be deemed of higher importance than questions of innocence and truth in the pursuit of justice, especially when human life is at stake.
In 2005, despite his feeling that Robin Lovitt was guilty of murder, enough doubts emerged to suggest his innocence so that Governor Mark Warner of Virginia commuted the sentence of death to life in order to prevent the possibility of a wrongful execution. The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles has the same option. Questions of innocence in the Davis case have not been resolved in a court of law. Such questions weigh very heavily on our hearts. Commuting Davis's sentence to life would affirm the principle that doubt is not acceptable in the application of a system that irreversibly takes human life.
We are aware that executive clemency power in Georgia rests in the hands of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. We are also aware that the board acts on behalf of the executive branch of government and is a governor-appointed body. We believe that the reputation of your state is on the line. The faith Georgia citizens have in the justice system is also on the line. We believe you have tremendous influence and moral authority as the leader of your state. We pray that you will ask God for guidance on how best to use the prestige of your office to ensure that a terrible, but preventable, tragedy does not befall your state on October 27.
Yours truly,
[List of endorsers]
Thank you for taking action. The barbarity of the death penalty must be abolished, but until we achieve universal abolition we must work to save every life.
In Christ,
Bill Mefford
Director, United Methodists Against the Death Penalty
Dear Jay,
Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed by the state of Georgia on October 27 at 7 pm, even though serious claims of innocence have never been heard in court.
Clergy can take action today and sign a petition that encourages Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to prevent this execution. If you are clergy, or if you can urge your pastor to sign the letter (shown below), please contact Brian Evans with Amnesty International who is collecting the information. Brian's email is bevans@aiusa.org and his phone number is 202-544-0200, ext. 496. Please include your name, title, church name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Please act now as the deadline for signing on is October 23rd.
Be sure to spread this to friends, family, and fellow church members to help spare Troy Davis' life.
About Troy Davis
Troy Davis was convicted of murder solely on the basis of testimony by witnesses. Seven of the nine non-police witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony, with several implicating possible police coercion. However, due to an increasingly restrictive appeals process, none of this new evidence has ever been heard in court. You can find out more about Troy Davis here.
Clergy Letter to Governor Perdue
Dear Governor Perdue,
We the undersigned clergy write to you as the chief political leader of your state. As leaders in our respective faith communities, we all find within our teachings a divine directive to support justice in the world and to uphold the sacredness of life. As Governor, you too bear a responsibility to support and promote justice for the people of Georgia. As such, our faith compels us to share with you our concern for Troy Anthony Davis, who faces execution by the state of Georgia on behalf of its citizens.
Almost twenty years ago, a police officer was tragically murdered in Savannah. We are deeply troubled that an innocent man may be executed for this awful crime. Should the state of Georgia carry out the execution of Troy Davis on October, 27, it is possible that justice will be denied for both Davis and Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
We are distressed by the inability of the appeals courts to provide a hearing or new trial to examine evidence that Troy Davis did not murder Mark MacPhail. We are distressed that in a case based solely on witness testimony the unprecedented number of witness recantations has not impressed the courts enough to re-examine the case. We are distressed that the appeals process has become so restrictive that the bar for proving innocence has become virtually unattainable. Finality and procedure must never be deemed of higher importance than questions of innocence and truth in the pursuit of justice, especially when human life is at stake.
In 2005, despite his feeling that Robin Lovitt was guilty of murder, enough doubts emerged to suggest his innocence so that Governor Mark Warner of Virginia commuted the sentence of death to life in order to prevent the possibility of a wrongful execution. The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles has the same option. Questions of innocence in the Davis case have not been resolved in a court of law. Such questions weigh very heavily on our hearts. Commuting Davis's sentence to life would affirm the principle that doubt is not acceptable in the application of a system that irreversibly takes human life.
We are aware that executive clemency power in Georgia rests in the hands of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. We are also aware that the board acts on behalf of the executive branch of government and is a governor-appointed body. We believe that the reputation of your state is on the line. The faith Georgia citizens have in the justice system is also on the line. We believe you have tremendous influence and moral authority as the leader of your state. We pray that you will ask God for guidance on how best to use the prestige of your office to ensure that a terrible, but preventable, tragedy does not befall your state on October 27.
Yours truly,
[List of endorsers]
Thank you for taking action. The barbarity of the death penalty must be abolished, but until we achieve universal abolition we must work to save every life.
In Christ,
Bill Mefford
Director, United Methodists Against the Death Penalty
RIP Ophelia
A friend's cat died recently. Another friend sent me this. I thought I'd share it in honor of Ophelia and her owner.
Purring" by Coleman Barks
The internet says science is not sure
how cats purr, probably
a vibration of the whole larynx,
unlike what we do when we talk.
Less likely, a blood vessel
moving across the chest wall.
As a child I tried to make every cat I met
purr. That was one of the early miracles,
the stroking to perfection.
Here is something I have never heard:
a feline purrs in two conditions,
when deeply content and when
mortally wounded, to calm themselves,
readying for the death-opening.
The low frequency evidently helps
to strengthen bones and heal
damaged organs.
Say poetry is a human purr,
vessel mooring in the chest,
a closed-mouthed refuge, the feel
of a glide through dying.
One winter morning on a sunny chair,
inside this only body,
a far-off inboard motorboat
sings the empty room, urrrrrrrhhhh
urrrrrrrhhhhh
urrrrrrrhhhh
"Purring" by Coleman Barks from Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems,
1968–2008. (c) University of Georgia Press, 2008
Purring" by Coleman Barks
The internet says science is not sure
how cats purr, probably
a vibration of the whole larynx,
unlike what we do when we talk.
Less likely, a blood vessel
moving across the chest wall.
As a child I tried to make every cat I met
purr. That was one of the early miracles,
the stroking to perfection.
Here is something I have never heard:
a feline purrs in two conditions,
when deeply content and when
mortally wounded, to calm themselves,
readying for the death-opening.
The low frequency evidently helps
to strengthen bones and heal
damaged organs.
Say poetry is a human purr,
vessel mooring in the chest,
a closed-mouthed refuge, the feel
of a glide through dying.
One winter morning on a sunny chair,
inside this only body,
a far-off inboard motorboat
sings the empty room, urrrrrrrhhhh
urrrrrrrhhhhh
urrrrrrrhhhh
"Purring" by Coleman Barks from Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems,
1968–2008. (c) University of Georgia Press, 2008
The Carillon
Here is this month's Carillon. The final version of my piece is on page 2. I'm not terribly happy about the title. I didn't get to write it. Click on the image to get to it.
I've been asked to write a piece for our Church newsletter about my recent surgery. My instructions were:
1. Take us through your experience.
2. Do it in 600 words or less
3. Can I have it by Friday?
yeesh!
Luckily, I had some time come free yesterday. (It happened right after I got the call asking if I could do this. That sort of thing spurs an entire other conversation...) So, here it is, very much in un-edited form. I Welcome your comments. Feel free to correct my memory of events and to comment on my writing. I'll post a link to the final copy when it gets published.
When Roy Larson offered me this space to discuss the adventure of the past few months, I was surprised and honored. Primarily, I was pleased. I am pleased that I have been given an opportunity to thank you, the community of The Temple for your prayers and support over these past months. Thanks to Rev. Blackwell’s mention of me during the services, many of you know that I had major surgery. What you probably don’t know is that this is my fifth surgery to repair my aorta. I have a genetic disorder called Marfan’s Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder that affects every system of the body. Most dramatically, it can affect the structure of the aorta, causing weak spots that can lead to a tearing of the inner lining (called a dissection) or even a total rupture. In 1994, my aortic arch ruptured. By the grace of God and expert medical care, I survived. Over the intervening years, I have had 4 more surgeries, but none has been extensive as the one this spring and never have I been as close to death.
Obviously, everyone was very worried. My family, friends and colleagues at Garrett- Evangelical had me on their churches’ prayer chain; I had all my bases covered, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists and yes, more than a few Methodists, AME, UMC and all our Methodist family were lifting us in prayer. Knowing this was a great help, it helped all of us feel less alone.
One of the most powerful examples of the power of prayer occurred during the bleakest point of my recovery. I was having such trouble breathing that the doctors decided to perform a tracheotomy. I remember very little, I was very sick and sedated. The doctors had told my family that it might be months before I was well enough to walk out of the hospital if, in fact, I ever recovered that well at all.
Before I had surgery, my wife Mary and I were making the arrangements that anyone facing a medical procedure should: power of attorney, living will etc. I told Mary that if things got bad and I was very sick, the UMC Book of Worship had a wonderful service that might make the family feel better. Mary had been in contact with my friends at seminary. Barb faxed it to my parents’ pastor, Rev. Alex Hendrickson, who, being Presbyterian didn’t have access to it. She agreed to perform the ceremony at my bedside. She even had an anointing balm that she had gotten on a recent trip to Jerusalem.
I remember that my whole family, including Mary’s parents and older sister, were arrayed about my hospital bed. They laid their hands on me. Rev. Hendrickson started the service. Despite not being able to speak very well, I mouthed the words with her. She took the balm and made the sign of the cross on my forehead. I remember feeling a wonderful warmth come over my body and a sensation of light going through me, piercing my chest and going skyward. I could actually feel the light! It was a feeling I had not felt before but somehow, I knew exactly what it was. I hesitate to name it for fear of minimizing it, somehow limiting it. It is indescribable, impossible to understand, but I think most call it the Holy Spirit.
Now, despite being in seminary and being a candidate for ordination, I am a bit of a skeptic. I don’t recommend relying on faith to cure disease. I’m a big fan of doctors and am in awe of their skill. I believe it is important to pray but believing that prayer can cure disease is a theological slippery slope that I’m not willing to tread on. But having said that, your prayers and the prayers of the churches of my family, friends and colleagues were heard. While I’m not wiling to say that I was cured by prayer and by the anointing with oil, they made me and the ones I love feel closer to God in their time of greatest loneliness and despair, and it is for your part in that miracle that I can never thank you enough.
1. Take us through your experience.
2. Do it in 600 words or less
3. Can I have it by Friday?
yeesh!
Luckily, I had some time come free yesterday. (It happened right after I got the call asking if I could do this. That sort of thing spurs an entire other conversation...) So, here it is, very much in un-edited form. I Welcome your comments. Feel free to correct my memory of events and to comment on my writing. I'll post a link to the final copy when it gets published.
When Roy Larson offered me this space to discuss the adventure of the past few months, I was surprised and honored. Primarily, I was pleased. I am pleased that I have been given an opportunity to thank you, the community of The Temple for your prayers and support over these past months. Thanks to Rev. Blackwell’s mention of me during the services, many of you know that I had major surgery. What you probably don’t know is that this is my fifth surgery to repair my aorta. I have a genetic disorder called Marfan’s Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder that affects every system of the body. Most dramatically, it can affect the structure of the aorta, causing weak spots that can lead to a tearing of the inner lining (called a dissection) or even a total rupture. In 1994, my aortic arch ruptured. By the grace of God and expert medical care, I survived. Over the intervening years, I have had 4 more surgeries, but none has been extensive as the one this spring and never have I been as close to death.
Obviously, everyone was very worried. My family, friends and colleagues at Garrett- Evangelical had me on their churches’ prayer chain; I had all my bases covered, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists and yes, more than a few Methodists, AME, UMC and all our Methodist family were lifting us in prayer. Knowing this was a great help, it helped all of us feel less alone.
One of the most powerful examples of the power of prayer occurred during the bleakest point of my recovery. I was having such trouble breathing that the doctors decided to perform a tracheotomy. I remember very little, I was very sick and sedated. The doctors had told my family that it might be months before I was well enough to walk out of the hospital if, in fact, I ever recovered that well at all.
Before I had surgery, my wife Mary and I were making the arrangements that anyone facing a medical procedure should: power of attorney, living will etc. I told Mary that if things got bad and I was very sick, the UMC Book of Worship had a wonderful service that might make the family feel better. Mary had been in contact with my friends at seminary. Barb faxed it to my parents’ pastor, Rev. Alex Hendrickson, who, being Presbyterian didn’t have access to it. She agreed to perform the ceremony at my bedside. She even had an anointing balm that she had gotten on a recent trip to Jerusalem.
I remember that my whole family, including Mary’s parents and older sister, were arrayed about my hospital bed. They laid their hands on me. Rev. Hendrickson started the service. Despite not being able to speak very well, I mouthed the words with her. She took the balm and made the sign of the cross on my forehead. I remember feeling a wonderful warmth come over my body and a sensation of light going through me, piercing my chest and going skyward. I could actually feel the light! It was a feeling I had not felt before but somehow, I knew exactly what it was. I hesitate to name it for fear of minimizing it, somehow limiting it. It is indescribable, impossible to understand, but I think most call it the Holy Spirit.
Now, despite being in seminary and being a candidate for ordination, I am a bit of a skeptic. I don’t recommend relying on faith to cure disease. I’m a big fan of doctors and am in awe of their skill. I believe it is important to pray but believing that prayer can cure disease is a theological slippery slope that I’m not willing to tread on. But having said that, your prayers and the prayers of the churches of my family, friends and colleagues were heard. While I’m not wiling to say that I was cured by prayer and by the anointing with oil, they made me and the ones I love feel closer to God in their time of greatest loneliness and despair, and it is for your part in that miracle that I can never thank you enough.
Question of the day
It seems at this point of our study of Christology we are emphasizing the difference between Christ’s salvific nature and the Biblical story of Jesus’ works and sayings. Could Christ have died for our sins if Jesus had not done the things that led him to be used as a "moral example." In other words, if we are saved by His death, must we pay attention to his actions and statements? Is the Sermon on the Mount advisory or declarative?
It's only the second week of class and already my brain is broken!
Jesus was a community organizer, Pilate was a Governor
This sound bite has been floating around the 'net in response to Governor Palin's snarky and mean spirited comment about Senator Obama's service. I'll not rehash that discussion as it is pretty easy to find. My friend in life and all things Internet Winston had an interesting discussion on a blog about it.
He asked for my thoughts. I thought I'd put them here. I wrote this in the comments section of his blog, so the parenthetical comments are directly to him, I leave them so you can be overwhelmed by my sense of humor!
He asked for my thoughts. I thought I'd put them here. I wrote this in the comments section of his blog, so the parenthetical comments are directly to him, I leave them so you can be overwhelmed by my sense of humor!
Interesting conversation. I think both of you had excellent points and I agree and disagree with both of you in just about equal measure. (Of course, you “win” you’re my best friend!!!!)
First. It’s proper title is The Revelation of God to John. So, in discourse it should be referred to as Revelation or The Revelation, not Revelations. (Just a little pet peeve of mine. and of course my NT professors)
As far as the meat of the argument, Jesus was a community organizer… is a wonderful sound bite. (That joke killed at seminary! What was the origin? John Stewart?) However, it is perhaps not entirely, technically correct. Organizing a community was probably not his primary mission on earth. I’m not sure what Jesus’ primary mission was. It isn’t possible to know what it is as Josepus is the only historian who even mentions a rabble rousing Jew in Jerusalem around the time in question and even he gets his info. thirdhand! Any argument about the historical Jesus, what he did or who he was, is a bit absurd because there is no way to determine who is right. Remember, the Gospels were written after everyone who had actually seen Jesus was already dead!
Now, it is possible to read the text and draw out of it, as you did, that Jesus was a community organizer. And that is fine, you can find things to support that argument, as you did very well. (I love it when you get accused of ignorance of the Bible!) To get that out of the text is, to my mind (as a Christian theologian), to miss the point. As my Christology professor Dr. Stephen Ray would say, you are reading the text as if it were a travelogue. The Bible does not exist to tell us about some first century rabble rousing Jew named Jesus who went around healing people etc. The Scripture is there so that we may understand the primary mission of CHRIST! What is important is that God so loved the world that he became incarnate in Christ! (Can I get an Amen?) And that’s what “Duane” was arguing. So, actually, you two were talking past each other. You were talking about Jesus, he was talking about Christ.
Amen.
/turns to congregation
“now turn in your hymnals to page… 
The Purpose Driven blog post
There is an interesting article in Time magazine this week about Rick Warren. I bought it because I've always been sort of on the fence about him. I have a knee jerk reaction to the word "Evangelical." I have an even more vigorous response to the words "Conservative Christian". As clergy, we all must be "unified in the essentials" and support each other. So, I need to learn to be careful in my public comments about other pastors. We are all on the same team and each is doing God's work. I have a tendency to simply write off anyone who is a conservative. I need to learn to be a bit more open minded about them. I've read a lot about Warren but I've not read any of his stuff so I thought the Time interview with him would be a good opportunity to hear his "voice." Some of my opinions were affirmed some were slightly changed and some remain conflicted. I'm writing this to help to clarify some of those opinions.
First, I still disagree passionately with him on the so called "Life" issues. I remain steadfastly Pro-choice. (We can't know when life actually begins. As Barack Obama says, those questions are above my pay grade. What we do know is that we must protect the lives of those that are here. I'll stop here. Sometime I may further explore my opinions on these issues, but that would take up a whole post.) I'm also an unapologetic Liberal. I think Government can be a wonderful agent for social change. (Again, I'll stop here.) On just about every political issue, I disagree with the so-called "Evangelicals" (I even disagree with that name, but again, that's another post.) But, for the most part, that disagreement is passionate but respectful. (or, at the very least, it should be. I get a little out of hand some time!)
As for Warren himself, I've not read any of his books. (My father, I believe, has so sometime I look forward to his comments.) Warren views church growth as a business. He even compares new churches to McDonalds. That troubles me, I have concerns about that view. (But, if we did more of that, perhaps we wouldn't be in the trouble we are in.) The danger is pretty clear. When we run churches like businesses we lose sight of what is important. If we are overly concerned about growing our congregation, we forget that we exist for only two reasons: Worship and Evangelism.
Now, one might say that Warren is a great evangelist. However, evangelism should not simply be a head count. Many of the "Evangelicals" seem to think that getting people as many people as possible to proclaim "I Love Jesus and he is my Lord and Saviour!" is what it is all about. My initial opinion of Warren was that he was of that stripe. His "Purpose Driven (fill in the blank)" seemed a gimmick to start new congregations, sell books and ultimately, bring in more money. Now, after reading the article, I firmly believe that Warren's heart is in the right place; he wants to bring people to Christ. I'm just not convinced that his motives are completely pure and that his methods are correct. I don't think he is "using" Christianity as a get rich scheme, but perhaps his success has blinded him a bit.
Evangelism is about teaching people what Christ is about. To do that we must show that to people. We must model Christ- like behavior. We must be careful not lose our prophetic voice. We must "speak truth to power." We must to minister to the "least and the lost." Warren trying to do this. He has initiatives in place to provide relief in Africa. But, according to the Time article, there is debate about how well it is working. To me, it almost seems like Warren is more concerned about making the effort rather than those efforts' success. He is great at networking, creating consensus and getting funding for projects. The Time article indicates that Warren's success ends there.
The church should never be all things to all people. Time says his church has 23, 000 members. How do you have that many members without making someone angry? Christ made people angry and uncomfortable. Even, nay especially, The Twelve. I still believe, that despite his good intentions, Warren is overly concerned with a head count above anything else. I think that despite his good intentions and desire to follow Christ, he has gotten carried away with the details and lost sight of the mission. The church should make it's members uncomfortable about how they live their lives and then show a better way. Showing people a better way is the core of evangelism. The difficulty churches face is how to make people uncomfortable and then keep them coming back. There is a balance to be found and having 23,000 members tells me you may not be making enough people uncomfortable.
There are many things about Warren's ministry that are good. I could write about that but that's been pretty well covered elsewhere. I'm not an evangelist. My ministry is about bringing the church to the people. I've been taught to meet people "at the point of their need." Perhaps that colors how I see Warren. I don't think Warren's pre-packaged, franchised approach to Christianity is for me.
First, I still disagree passionately with him on the so called "Life" issues. I remain steadfastly Pro-choice. (We can't know when life actually begins. As Barack Obama says, those questions are above my pay grade. What we do know is that we must protect the lives of those that are here. I'll stop here. Sometime I may further explore my opinions on these issues, but that would take up a whole post.) I'm also an unapologetic Liberal. I think Government can be a wonderful agent for social change. (Again, I'll stop here.) On just about every political issue, I disagree with the so-called "Evangelicals" (I even disagree with that name, but again, that's another post.) But, for the most part, that disagreement is passionate but respectful. (or, at the very least, it should be. I get a little out of hand some time!)
As for Warren himself, I've not read any of his books. (My father, I believe, has so sometime I look forward to his comments.) Warren views church growth as a business. He even compares new churches to McDonalds. That troubles me, I have concerns about that view. (But, if we did more of that, perhaps we wouldn't be in the trouble we are in.) The danger is pretty clear. When we run churches like businesses we lose sight of what is important. If we are overly concerned about growing our congregation, we forget that we exist for only two reasons: Worship and Evangelism.
Now, one might say that Warren is a great evangelist. However, evangelism should not simply be a head count. Many of the "Evangelicals" seem to think that getting people as many people as possible to proclaim "I Love Jesus and he is my Lord and Saviour!" is what it is all about. My initial opinion of Warren was that he was of that stripe. His "Purpose Driven (fill in the blank)" seemed a gimmick to start new congregations, sell books and ultimately, bring in more money. Now, after reading the article, I firmly believe that Warren's heart is in the right place; he wants to bring people to Christ. I'm just not convinced that his motives are completely pure and that his methods are correct. I don't think he is "using" Christianity as a get rich scheme, but perhaps his success has blinded him a bit.
Evangelism is about teaching people what Christ is about. To do that we must show that to people. We must model Christ- like behavior. We must be careful not lose our prophetic voice. We must "speak truth to power." We must to minister to the "least and the lost." Warren trying to do this. He has initiatives in place to provide relief in Africa. But, according to the Time article, there is debate about how well it is working. To me, it almost seems like Warren is more concerned about making the effort rather than those efforts' success. He is great at networking, creating consensus and getting funding for projects. The Time article indicates that Warren's success ends there.
The church should never be all things to all people. Time says his church has 23, 000 members. How do you have that many members without making someone angry? Christ made people angry and uncomfortable. Even, nay especially, The Twelve. I still believe, that despite his good intentions, Warren is overly concerned with a head count above anything else. I think that despite his good intentions and desire to follow Christ, he has gotten carried away with the details and lost sight of the mission. The church should make it's members uncomfortable about how they live their lives and then show a better way. Showing people a better way is the core of evangelism. The difficulty churches face is how to make people uncomfortable and then keep them coming back. There is a balance to be found and having 23,000 members tells me you may not be making enough people uncomfortable.
There are many things about Warren's ministry that are good. I could write about that but that's been pretty well covered elsewhere. I'm not an evangelist. My ministry is about bringing the church to the people. I've been taught to meet people "at the point of their need." Perhaps that colors how I see Warren. I don't think Warren's pre-packaged, franchised approach to Christianity is for me.
M I A
Sorry. Been on vacation spending time with lovely wife Mo; and watching the Olympics.
I'll be back I promise!
I'll be back I promise!
Something Wonderful
My friend Winston at the Teahouse had this on his site. It is wonderful!!!
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Go to Dancing Matt's site or here for more info on Dancing Matt.
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Go to Dancing Matt's site or here for more info on Dancing Matt.
Another one
Another death by ruptured aorta. Slobodan "Slobo" Ilijevski died Monday. My birthday, oddly. He was 58.
I remember watching this guy play soccer in the '80s. He was a goalie for the indoor soccer team in St. Louis. I remember wanting to buy his jersey. I've always been more attracted to defenders. The glory always goes to those who score goals, runs, or points of any kind. Defense is usually under appreciated. He was so fun to watch. He, and the rest of the Steamers were a part of the reason I love soccer so much.
It is such a strange feeling to read about deaths like this. I mean, there is the obvious grief of reading about the death of someone you remember from your youth. But with a death like this, there is so much more. He died of something I have survived multiple times. Saying "Man, I was lucky" gets really old after a while. The fact that I am still alive is unfathomable. All i can do is shake my head, go get more coffee, and get ready for physical therapy.
Well, that and say a prayer for his family and a prayer of thanksgiving for mine. I am really lucky and chances are, if you are reading this, you are part of my family and I love you very much.
Maybe I'll try to work through more of this later. But for now, Suzanne is coming. Time for PT.
I remember watching this guy play soccer in the '80s. He was a goalie for the indoor soccer team in St. Louis. I remember wanting to buy his jersey. I've always been more attracted to defenders. The glory always goes to those who score goals, runs, or points of any kind. Defense is usually under appreciated. He was so fun to watch. He, and the rest of the Steamers were a part of the reason I love soccer so much.
It is such a strange feeling to read about deaths like this. I mean, there is the obvious grief of reading about the death of someone you remember from your youth. But with a death like this, there is so much more. He died of something I have survived multiple times. Saying "Man, I was lucky" gets really old after a while. The fact that I am still alive is unfathomable. All i can do is shake my head, go get more coffee, and get ready for physical therapy.
Well, that and say a prayer for his family and a prayer of thanksgiving for mine. I am really lucky and chances are, if you are reading this, you are part of my family and I love you very much.
Maybe I'll try to work through more of this later. But for now, Suzanne is coming. Time for PT.
Return to work.
Well, I went back to work/church today. It was a nice time. I started the day off with Eucharist. Junior Female Pastor prayed over me. I then wandered around the city and ran some errands. When I got back to work/church, I sat in with Junior Male Pastor (JMP) and talked. Now, JMP and I have become pretty close. It is weird to discover that someone that you look up to as a mentor looks up to you too. JMP and I had a long conversation about my recent adventures. Turns out, he was pretty shook up about the whole thing. Of course, the entire staff was, but JMP and I worked together the closest and spent the most time together. He has spent quite a bit of time pastoring sick folk. So, when lovely wife Mo told him how sick I'd gotten, he began to fear the worst. Turns out, that every time my name was mentioned in the staff meetings, everyone sort of held their breath, anticipating the worst. JMP talked to me about how simply surviving such an ordeal was a ministry to him. He told me I was his hero. He talked to me about how he saw such great faith in me; it took great faith to fight the illness. So often, he'd see people who would ask "Pastor, why doesn't God just take me to him? Why does he keep me here?" He told me how it took great faith on my part to fight to come back. Maybe someday I'll understand that comment. I kinda do, but I think I need to sit with it for a while.
So, after lunch, it was time for the noon service. Senior Pastor talked about his vacation; he and his wife went on a cruise to Alaska! Now, to be fair, this was his first vacation in over three years and it also was their 40th anniversary. So, don't start with the "Never trust a pastor with more than two suits" rhetoric. Anyway, after that we went into his office and talked about the ordination process. I won't bore you with the details, but I have a TON of work to do! But the conversation drifted a bit and I told him the story about the healing service in my hospital room. We started discussing it. We also talked about prayer. He asked" what exactly is it that happens?" "How does it work?" Part of me wishes I knew. Another part is glad it remains a holy mystery. Perhaps that's a cop out. If it is, too bad. I'm tired. I had a busy day at church/work today!
So, after lunch, it was time for the noon service. Senior Pastor talked about his vacation; he and his wife went on a cruise to Alaska! Now, to be fair, this was his first vacation in over three years and it also was their 40th anniversary. So, don't start with the "Never trust a pastor with more than two suits" rhetoric. Anyway, after that we went into his office and talked about the ordination process. I won't bore you with the details, but I have a TON of work to do! But the conversation drifted a bit and I told him the story about the healing service in my hospital room. We started discussing it. We also talked about prayer. He asked" what exactly is it that happens?" "How does it work?" Part of me wishes I knew. Another part is glad it remains a holy mystery. Perhaps that's a cop out. If it is, too bad. I'm tired. I had a busy day at church/work today!
Hospital thoughts
This is part of a larger piece that I am working on. It is a "spiritual biography." Whatever that is... Anyway, when I think part of it might be of interest to a larger audience, I'll put it up here. Feel free to comment. I'd like to know what you think!
My memory tells me the pastor wore a white robe. My wife tells me she wore a pink shirt and slacks. I remember that she was at the head of the bed with my whole family, including in-laws arrayed about my hospital bed, laying their hands on me. My memory is correct about that. They tell me that despite the tube down my throat, I mouthed the words to the service. That doesn’t surprise me; I had done this service before, so I knew it well. What I remember most clearly is the anointing. She had her hands on me, and then she took a balm of some sort and made the sign of the cross on my forehead. I remember feeling a wonderful warmth come over my body and a sensation of light going through me, piercing my chest and going skyward. I could actually feel the light! As it flowed through me and out my chest, it didn’t cause pain, it made me feel better. It was a feeling I had not felt before but somehow, I knew exactly what it was. I hesitate to name it for fear of minimizing it, somehow limiting it. It is indescribable, impossible to understand, but I think most call it the Holy Spirit.
My Friend Jerry
Rev. Gerald E. Forshey 1932 ~ 2008
Please keep his wife Florence and his family in your prayers. We give thanks for the opportunity to have known Jerry and for the effect he has had on our lives and ministries.
Rest well Jerry. You, of all people, deserve it.
Clergyman strove for social justice
By Trevor Jensen
Chicago Tribune
May 22, 2008
Rev. Gerald E. Forshey, an activist Methodist pastor who regularly questioned church hierarchy and once spent five days in a Mississippi jail for trying to integrate local congregations, was also a film and art scholar who taught in the City Colleges of Chicago.
Rev. Forshey, 75, died of cancer at his La Grange home Saturday, May 17, said his wife, Florence.
Rev. Forshey came to Chicago in 1958 as pastor of Armitage Avenue Methodist Church. He also served a number of Chicago's United Methodist congregations, including as an associate pastor at St. Mark United Methodist Church in the Chatham neighborhood.
In 1963, Rev. Forshey was among 12 people, four of them Chicago-area Methodist ministers, arrested in Jackson, Miss., for trying to lead blacks into three local churches.
"For him, justice was the issue whether it was in the church or on the public square," said Rev. Philip Blackwell, senior pastor of the Chicago Temple.
In the late 1960s, Rev. Forshey was an outspoken member of a group of clergy called the Renewal Caucus that sought to effect change in the Methodist church from within. One offshoot of this group met regularly to consult on appointments made by the church's bishop.
"This group had come to trust each other in a way we did not trust the bureaucracy," said Rev. Martin Deppe, a friend and colleague.
"Within the church, we pushed for a level of flexibility. [Rev. Forshey] was the philosopher, he was the prod, he was the one who made us nervous."
Rev. Forshey's activism covered a breadth of issues as illustrated by the many protest buttons he collected over the years. "ERA, Welfare Rights, Indian Power, Anti-Gambling. Here's one that says, 'I'm not sure why I'm wearing this button,' " his wife said as she looked them over.
The perpetually disheveled Rev. Forshey cut a distinct figure among his fellow ministers. "He was the least genteel Methodist minister I knew," said Roy Larson, former religion editor at the Sun-Times.
Seeking to create a church without walls, Rev. Forshey started the Church of the New City in the 1970s, which met at the University of Illinois at Chicago for a couple of years before disbanding, his wife said.
By this time, he was on his way to a doctorate in the humanities from the University of Chicago and a teaching career. He taught for many years at Malcolm X College and Richard J. Daley College before retiring about 10 years ago.
Rev. Forshey was born in Long Beach, Calif., and grew up in Reno. While at University of California-Los Angeles, he became close to leaders of his Methodist church and decided to join the clergy, getting a master of divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver.
A lifelong fan of art, film and opera, he was drawn to Chicago by the local cultural scene, his wife said. Enthralled by metaphor, he wrote his doctoral dissertation on symbolism within cinematic religious spectaculars like "Ben Hur" and "The Ten Commandments" and filled his home with artwork depicting Don Quixote.
Last year, Rev. Forshey led a group on an art appreciation tour of Italy. He could discuss any number of works in great depth and length. "We'd still be there if we hadn't had a co-leader with a watch," said Blackwell, who was on the trip.
"His theology was very deep, a lot had to do with the redemptive nature of our imagination, that we could imagine things could be different," Blackwell said.
In addition to his wife, Rev. Forshey is survived by a brother, Ron.
Visitation is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 W. 31st St., Brookfield. A memorial service will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church of Chicago, 77 W. Washington St.
ttjensen@tribune.com
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
Please keep his wife Florence and his family in your prayers. We give thanks for the opportunity to have known Jerry and for the effect he has had on our lives and ministries.
Rest well Jerry. You, of all people, deserve it.
Clergyman strove for social justice
By Trevor Jensen
Chicago Tribune
May 22, 2008
Rev. Gerald E. Forshey, an activist Methodist pastor who regularly questioned church hierarchy and once spent five days in a Mississippi jail for trying to integrate local congregations, was also a film and art scholar who taught in the City Colleges of Chicago.
Rev. Forshey, 75, died of cancer at his La Grange home Saturday, May 17, said his wife, Florence.
Rev. Forshey came to Chicago in 1958 as pastor of Armitage Avenue Methodist Church. He also served a number of Chicago's United Methodist congregations, including as an associate pastor at St. Mark United Methodist Church in the Chatham neighborhood.
In 1963, Rev. Forshey was among 12 people, four of them Chicago-area Methodist ministers, arrested in Jackson, Miss., for trying to lead blacks into three local churches.
"For him, justice was the issue whether it was in the church or on the public square," said Rev. Philip Blackwell, senior pastor of the Chicago Temple.
In the late 1960s, Rev. Forshey was an outspoken member of a group of clergy called the Renewal Caucus that sought to effect change in the Methodist church from within. One offshoot of this group met regularly to consult on appointments made by the church's bishop.
"This group had come to trust each other in a way we did not trust the bureaucracy," said Rev. Martin Deppe, a friend and colleague.
"Within the church, we pushed for a level of flexibility. [Rev. Forshey] was the philosopher, he was the prod, he was the one who made us nervous."
Rev. Forshey's activism covered a breadth of issues as illustrated by the many protest buttons he collected over the years. "ERA, Welfare Rights, Indian Power, Anti-Gambling. Here's one that says, 'I'm not sure why I'm wearing this button,' " his wife said as she looked them over.
The perpetually disheveled Rev. Forshey cut a distinct figure among his fellow ministers. "He was the least genteel Methodist minister I knew," said Roy Larson, former religion editor at the Sun-Times.
Seeking to create a church without walls, Rev. Forshey started the Church of the New City in the 1970s, which met at the University of Illinois at Chicago for a couple of years before disbanding, his wife said.
By this time, he was on his way to a doctorate in the humanities from the University of Chicago and a teaching career. He taught for many years at Malcolm X College and Richard J. Daley College before retiring about 10 years ago.
Rev. Forshey was born in Long Beach, Calif., and grew up in Reno. While at University of California-Los Angeles, he became close to leaders of his Methodist church and decided to join the clergy, getting a master of divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver.
A lifelong fan of art, film and opera, he was drawn to Chicago by the local cultural scene, his wife said. Enthralled by metaphor, he wrote his doctoral dissertation on symbolism within cinematic religious spectaculars like "Ben Hur" and "The Ten Commandments" and filled his home with artwork depicting Don Quixote.
Last year, Rev. Forshey led a group on an art appreciation tour of Italy. He could discuss any number of works in great depth and length. "We'd still be there if we hadn't had a co-leader with a watch," said Blackwell, who was on the trip.
"His theology was very deep, a lot had to do with the redemptive nature of our imagination, that we could imagine things could be different," Blackwell said.
In addition to his wife, Rev. Forshey is survived by a brother, Ron.
Visitation is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 W. 31st St., Brookfield. A memorial service will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church of Chicago, 77 W. Washington St.
ttjensen@tribune.com
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
Surgery
Well, all the maneuvering and changes and uncertainty about dates have taken their toll. LWM and I are exhausted, but, finally, we have a confirmed date. I won't be changing this one. The surgery is Friday. So, I don't imagine I'll be posting much over the next few months. Thanks for your prayers. I'll write more as soon as I can.
I'M READING FICTION!!!!
WAHOO!
I started The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon. The same guy that wrote the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay My sister would call them "weird" I prefer the term Post Modern. They are both set in a familiar setting, but with an twist. The Yiddish Policean's Union is set in an alternate reality where the Jews have no homeland and have been scattered across the globe. I'm only a chapter in, but it already has my attention.
I'd forgotten that reading could be fun! Not that I don't like reading German theologians...
I started The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon. The same guy that wrote the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay My sister would call them "weird" I prefer the term Post Modern. They are both set in a familiar setting, but with an twist. The Yiddish Policean's Union is set in an alternate reality where the Jews have no homeland and have been scattered across the globe. I'm only a chapter in, but it already has my attention.
I'd forgotten that reading could be fun! Not that I don't like reading German theologians...
Update -
Lots has been going on. My sister's mother in law died after a long illness. I found out I had to have surgery. Mary has set up a Caring Bridge site. It is here
I have to have my aorta redone. When Dr. K replaced most of my aorta in 2003, he left small section of my aorta intact. This was to prevent him from having to reattach all of the intercoastal arteries individually. It would have taken too long and greatly increased the risk of paraplegia. So he just left the section where all of those attached and sewed the whole thing into the graft. Now, that section of native tissue is failing. He wanted to do a minimally invasive procedure six months ago but we found out that the stent-graft wouldn't deploy correctly. So, Dr. K decided to put off surgery as long as possible.
Long story short, it isn't possible anymore. I was originally going to wait until summer vacation to have it done, but we've decided it needs to be moved up to April 1st. I've gotten a few comments about that date...
Anyway, I have some things to take care of. I just wanted to get this post up so everyone was up to date.
I have to have my aorta redone. When Dr. K replaced most of my aorta in 2003, he left small section of my aorta intact. This was to prevent him from having to reattach all of the intercoastal arteries individually. It would have taken too long and greatly increased the risk of paraplegia. So he just left the section where all of those attached and sewed the whole thing into the graft. Now, that section of native tissue is failing. He wanted to do a minimally invasive procedure six months ago but we found out that the stent-graft wouldn't deploy correctly. So, Dr. K decided to put off surgery as long as possible.
Long story short, it isn't possible anymore. I was originally going to wait until summer vacation to have it done, but we've decided it needs to be moved up to April 1st. I've gotten a few comments about that date...
Anyway, I have some things to take care of. I just wanted to get this post up so everyone was up to date.
I'm Proud
One of my best friends sent me this video. This friend is a passionate secularist and a political progressive.
The video makes me proud to be a progressive and proud to be a Christian. This is the first time I can ever remember being both at the same time.
The video is 40 minutes long but well worth the time. I'm not sure when it was taken but I don't think the content would change much if the speech were given today.
The video makes me proud to be a progressive and proud to be a Christian. This is the first time I can ever remember being both at the same time.
The video is 40 minutes long but well worth the time. I'm not sure when it was taken but I don't think the content would change much if the speech were given today.
Here we go again!
A big day today. Election day, school starts and tomorrow is my first Ash Wednesday as clergy. I'll end up at church for about 12 hours tomorrow. We do imposition of ashes, Eucharist, in the morning, a midday service and an Ash Wednesday service tomorrow night.
An interesting discussion is starting in my theology class. (Pneumatology, Ecclesiology and Eschatology, or P. E & E for short.) Today we learned about the idea that total depravity is not the way of humanity. I must admit, this was refreshing for me. Despite everything I've learned about the evil of man. I have never been able to give up on a high anthropology. I've always felt that we have a spark of the divine in us. Its nice to know that a German Theologian agrees with me.
Jurgen Moltmann talks about the Holy Spirit as not being only relevatory. In other words, The Holy Spirit is not something that we simply experience, it is something we are in relationship with. And to be in relationship with something implies that there is a bit of that thing in us. Therefore, if we are part of the relationship with the Holy Spirit, we have some of it in us. And it is this part that goads on on and moves us toward perfection.
I see some echoes of Bonhoeffer's concept of Costly Grace in this as well as some of the Social Justice directives of Wesley. Ultimately, it is this bit of divinity that is in all of us that gets of off our butts and motivates us to make this world a better place. Moreover, to not do something is a denial of that divinity that rivals the denial of Peter.
So, go vote!
An interesting discussion is starting in my theology class. (Pneumatology, Ecclesiology and Eschatology, or P. E & E for short.) Today we learned about the idea that total depravity is not the way of humanity. I must admit, this was refreshing for me. Despite everything I've learned about the evil of man. I have never been able to give up on a high anthropology. I've always felt that we have a spark of the divine in us. Its nice to know that a German Theologian agrees with me.
Jurgen Moltmann talks about the Holy Spirit as not being only relevatory. In other words, The Holy Spirit is not something that we simply experience, it is something we are in relationship with. And to be in relationship with something implies that there is a bit of that thing in us. Therefore, if we are part of the relationship with the Holy Spirit, we have some of it in us. And it is this part that goads on on and moves us toward perfection.
I see some echoes of Bonhoeffer's concept of Costly Grace in this as well as some of the Social Justice directives of Wesley. Ultimately, it is this bit of divinity that is in all of us that gets of off our butts and motivates us to make this world a better place. Moreover, to not do something is a denial of that divinity that rivals the denial of Peter.
So, go vote!
MLK
A few months ago, I posted the text of Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech. See it here.
Today I went to a lecture at school by Rev. Mark Dennis
Rev. Dennis discussed Dr. King's legacy and some of his management techniques. He compared and contrasted them to Barak Obama's. Very favorably compared them I might add. A classmate (Young Ashley, for those of you who've heard my stories.) said. "I want to vote for Obama more now than I did before!"
But anyway, the prime point of the lecture that I took away was that both Obama and King had spiritual advisers. The both had/have Pastors to help them along. This is the way Pastors can be agents of change.
Dr. King had "Daddy King" as MLK Sr. was called by those close to them. MLK also had Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, who would eulogize King shortly after that day in April.
Senator Obama has Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity UCC in Chicago.
The contributions of these men were and are critical to the success of King and Obama. Rev. Dennis spoke us about the importance of training seminarians to be this type of agents of change. His most pointed comment was that "The world is in need of more Pastors and fewer Preachers."
Dr. King has always been a hero of mine. He's been up there with Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and other crusaders for Justice. But these people are almost like fictional characters. I've never had a real life link to them. Recently I was privileged to hear Rev. Martin Deppy tell stories about his work with Dr. King when Dr. King moved his family to Chicago.
One of Martin Deppy's closest friends, (indeed, Deppy described him as his brother), is Jerry Forshey. The last time I had surgery, Jerry, a retired United Methodist minister, was a great source of comfort to my lovely wife (girlfriend at the time) Mo. Jerry has cancer and is not expected to live to see the end of the year. He has asked me to help him to write some of his stories of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement. I've already heard stories about what happened to Jerry when he was marching and a number of people including Dr. King were hit with thrown bricks. I've heard stories about Jerry's involvement in the effort to desegregate the Methodist church. I hope to hear more soon. I'm sure I'll be writitng about it in some format. If not here, then somewhere.
It is an obvious honor to be asked to help someone carry out a dying wish. But there is another level to this. This gives me a living link to one of my heroes. I've sat and talked with two men who were privileged confidants of one of the greatest figures in American History. It has been almost two weeks since I was asked to do this and I'm still processing it. I'll let you know how it goes.
Today I went to a lecture at school by Rev. Mark Dennis
Rev. Dennis discussed Dr. King's legacy and some of his management techniques. He compared and contrasted them to Barak Obama's. Very favorably compared them I might add. A classmate (Young Ashley, for those of you who've heard my stories.) said. "I want to vote for Obama more now than I did before!"
But anyway, the prime point of the lecture that I took away was that both Obama and King had spiritual advisers. The both had/have Pastors to help them along. This is the way Pastors can be agents of change.
Dr. King had "Daddy King" as MLK Sr. was called by those close to them. MLK also had Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, who would eulogize King shortly after that day in April.
Senator Obama has Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity UCC in Chicago.
The contributions of these men were and are critical to the success of King and Obama. Rev. Dennis spoke us about the importance of training seminarians to be this type of agents of change. His most pointed comment was that "The world is in need of more Pastors and fewer Preachers."
Dr. King has always been a hero of mine. He's been up there with Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and other crusaders for Justice. But these people are almost like fictional characters. I've never had a real life link to them. Recently I was privileged to hear Rev. Martin Deppy tell stories about his work with Dr. King when Dr. King moved his family to Chicago.
One of Martin Deppy's closest friends, (indeed, Deppy described him as his brother), is Jerry Forshey. The last time I had surgery, Jerry, a retired United Methodist minister, was a great source of comfort to my lovely wife (girlfriend at the time) Mo. Jerry has cancer and is not expected to live to see the end of the year. He has asked me to help him to write some of his stories of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement. I've already heard stories about what happened to Jerry when he was marching and a number of people including Dr. King were hit with thrown bricks. I've heard stories about Jerry's involvement in the effort to desegregate the Methodist church. I hope to hear more soon. I'm sure I'll be writitng about it in some format. If not here, then somewhere.
It is an obvious honor to be asked to help someone carry out a dying wish. But there is another level to this. This gives me a living link to one of my heroes. I've sat and talked with two men who were privileged confidants of one of the greatest figures in American History. It has been almost two weeks since I was asked to do this and I'm still processing it. I'll let you know how it goes.
Seasonal Depression Antidote
I've taken a hiatus. But I have some new projects to work on and some old, overdue ones to finish. So, I need to clear out the cobwebs and break the writers block I've had for a while. I also usually spend most of January in bed, hibernating. I'm always down this time of year, as is most of everyone else. This morning I, as usual was "flipping through" the online version of the Chicago Tribune. and I came across the picture below. It goes on my list of cutest things ever and it made me smile for , what seems like the first time since Christmas. (Except of course for the constant smile that comes from being around Mo. She's been wonderful as usual. I'll never understand how she puts up with my foul moods, but she does. She really does love me.) Anyway, enough of that. Here's the picture. (It's a baby Polar Bear.)
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