IS THIS ANY WAY TO LIVE?

It seems this is the way we live according to the RNC, living in FEAR! Is this anyway to live? You'd think inflation was 17.8%, unemployment was approaching 25%, the Gross Domestic Product was shrinking, and the crime you read about in Batman was what was happening. Is this any way to live?

For one, we don't live like this. We don't. Life isn't perfect, not by a stretch, but if all we do is watch the new on TV (and it doesn't matter what your brand is) you're going to be scared to death. It's how they keep you coming back for more. Between the 24-Hour news cycle, the pundits who feed it, and the politicians who fuel it up, keeping us living in fear keeps them in power and wealth. Do you think they'll give any of that up easily? No.

Unplug. Read The Atlantic Monthly, read The Economist. Read stuff with tables and without pictures. Get a magazine that doesn't have articles about Kardashians in it. If we don't, we'll end up living in a world Lenny warns about...

Conditioned to hate and them to blame
Their search for God is just the same
Machines for hearts, how warped a view
Forgetting that they're human too
Waiting like a branded steer
Who first will launch the burning spear
When every day may be your last
You think we'd learn from our past

I living in fear, I living in fear
I can't tell you no lies
I living in fear, I living in fear
Ouh yeah yeah yeah yeah

People say history repeats itself. The joke that comes from that is that's not true, historians repeat each other. Actually, the quote is "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

In this case, it's true, historians do repeat each other... because history has repeated.

Is this any way to live? No, it's not. Beware

Pastor Paul's July 12 Federated Flash Article

Dear Friends in Christ,

Chris Baker is a student at Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Louisville. He wrote this for his Facebook page and it is currently making the rounds on the interwebs. I haven’t found anyone who has said this in such a sound theological manner so instead of trying, I will use his words. To clarify, derailment is the act of using a counterargument or counter assertion to derail a conversation from the original point:

I saw yet another ‪#‎AllLivesMatter‬ derailment this morning, and it made me want to scream. Or, rather, it made me want to scream this: 

‬‬
When, in the Beatitudes, Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor," you don't shout "Everyone's blessed!" When Jesus says "Blessed are the hungry," you don't shout "Everyone's blessed!" When Jesus says, "Blessed are those who mourn," you don't shout "Everyone's blessed!" You don't, I hope, because you understand that Jesus declares these people blessed precisely because they never have been. Their society never blessed them. The proverbial powers that be never blessed them. Their neighbors never blessed them. No one blessed them. No one considered them blessed, worthy of blessing. Their lives, in other words, never mattered.

I hope, too, that you understand what happens next in the Gospel of Luke. The blessings are followed by curses. Woe to the rich, who have enriched themselves at the expense of the poor. Woe to the full, who have engorged themselves at the expense of the hungry. Woe to those who are laughing now, in the face of the grief and misery of others. Jesus has flipped the script. Out is in. In is out. Down is up. Up is down. And ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ precisely because they haven't, and in your derailment they still don't. Biblically and theologically speaking, that's some dangerous ground you're occupying.

Now for what he doesn’t say, all lives don’t matter. He’s saying that according to the Gospel of Luke, the powerless will be blessed and those who benefit at the expense of those who are oppressed, woe unto them. Ready for the big curse, if that includes some police, if that includes some politicians, if that includes some corporations (who are “persons” under the law) then so be it. Woe unto them.

I hate to bring up the Jackson 5 here, but this is the problem of “one bad apple.” Sometimes all it takes is one person to cause a broad brush to be used. It’s one of the greatest horrors, but it’s true. Pastors understand this too. With sexual abuse, financial abuse, and other abuses of power I can be suspect.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus blesses those who have never been blessed. Those who have blessed themselves, well, woe unto them. I thank God for the Messiah who has blessed us so that we may be a blessing.

I am not here to curse woes unto people who have done well. The nation of Israel was blessed to be a blessing. Through Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Christ, we have been grafted into that vine. We have been blessed, but if we are not a blessing then Christ will ask what we have done with our blessing. This is a question worth asking. This is what our society needs to ask.

Oh, and maybe when the people who have not been blessed are, that will be a blessing to all people.

See you in Church, Paul

We pray for police, military, and all others who voluntarily put themselves in harm’s way in service to others.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

It's been a while, and here's why...

The other day I posted this little gem on my facebook page:

I hereby declare that Blueberry Syrup shall henceforth be known as "Mrs. Buttersmurf."

I know, it's a silly little thing to say, but it crossed my mind on Sunday morning and I thought it was worth sharing with the world.  As for me, I think I think the bottle would be a hoot.

On of my friends posted this on my page:

I was just thinking yesterday I was missing some Paul Andresen humor. Thanks for the infusion.

My response was that things stopped being funny a while ago. Life its ownself has gotten pretty tough. It has seemed that over the past few years most everything has been tough and whenever anything has looked up, Marie and I would get knocked down twice as hard.

If you are thinking that my blogs and other correspondence have reflected this, please know there is significant self editing. I am trying not to live so that the rest of the world sings this song to me:

I simply pray never to hear those fateful words "If you just want to cry to somebody, don't cry to me."

But things are beginning to look up. I'm interviewing for a part time job, there's a church that has some interest, my Motel 6 management training should restart soon, and we're moving this weekend. Thanks to all of the folks who are helping too.

Marie even got the notice of her judgement, her Social Security disability has been approved. Of course, that day we got a parking ticket... for parking in a handicapped parking space without a permit. Like the Morton Salt girl says, when it rains...

All in all, I could use a little more humor too.

Jesus Wept, Lazarus Laughed, Megan Died, and as for me...

This Sunday's lectionary reading was the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This passage has many wonderful pieces and images, but the most famous is found in the King James Bible at John 11:35. You know it too, "Jesus wept."

Pastor Kemper Huber at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas preached a wonderful sermon using the Eugene O'Neill play "Lazarus Laughed". The link provides a synopsis of the show, but here are some highlights from the sermon:

• Lazarus returned
• People asked what it was like to have died
• Lazarus laughed
• He told them death was like life, but fuller, more bountiful
• He continued to laugh.

That became the hallmark of the show, Lazarus laughed in the face of all danger. He had died, what could scare him next? Nothing! In the face of overwhelming odds, in the face of certain death; there was nothing to worry about anymore. This caught on in the household of Lazarus and all throughout Bethany. "Death, where is thy sting?" Yeah, it's all gone.

This wouldn't do for the Roman Prelate. When death and fear of death are your weapons and suddenly there is no more fear of death, your biggest weapon is gone. Lazarus was sent to Rome to go before Caesar.Caesar threatened to have Lazarus killed. You can guess what happened next. Caesar burned Lazarus at the stake. You know what happened the whole time. The show ends with the "most important man in the world" bested by a laughing Jew.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed.

Kemper tied the theme of the show, Lazarus laughing at death with Jesus telling the world "Fear not." Christ conquered death. Lazarus shows us in John 11 and Eugene O'Niell shows us in the dramatized version of what happened next. In all of these situations, death is powerless. Christ saves us from mundane death. It's gone, hallelujah!

There was one problem with this. I have a the problem with the sermon, and a problem with the show. It's not a problem with Kemper's theology or even with the play, it's a problem with sin.

There is (at least in some circles) fate worse than death. There are times in the life of some people when "it" (whatever "it" may be) becomes so overwhelming that these people see the sweet release of death preferable to the cold hard existence of life. The people who say "Life's a bitch and then you die," yeah, those people.

Some people decide to get off the train early. The ones who get off before the final stop commit suicide. Death, the bountiful life after this painful life is so very seductive.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed, Megan died.

Those of you who have followed this blog know who Megan is. If you don't this link tells more about her and about a much younger me. I remember wondering how horrible Megan felt that she would take her own life. I gave thanks that I never felt that way and prayed I never would. Then six months ago, my world fell apart and I had an idea of how bad she felt. I did not want to feel like I felt another day, another minute, another moment. I knew this was a permanent solution. For those who would add "to a temporary problem," I would invite you to "enjoy the freefall" and tell me it doesn't seem like an idea worth considering.

This is the suicide issue when it comes to the "bountiful life" of death, it's seductive. The pain of life, pain which is too much to carry, is gone. All that's left is new life. Laughter. Yes, Jesus weeps, but Lazarus laughs. It's not healthy. It's not right. It's pretty bad for everyone left behind... but that guilt trip isn't your problem.

While considering all of this another Bible story came to mind, Job. Job's wife, after witnessing the calamity of their life together, suffering the same losses except for the physical boils, finally said "Curse God and die." She told him to commit suicide by use of the Lord. But Job was faithful.

Job's wife chose the sweet release of death for her husband. Job chose a  life to a faithful God despite the horrors of the moment.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed, Megan died, and as for me...

As for me, I've gotten a better medical diagnosis. I'm working hard to stay healthy. I'm eating better, exercising and working. I see a counselor and I see a Psychiatrist. I do the medical therapy and I do the talk therapy. I have good days and bad days. I have more good days and my bad days aren't anywhere as bad as they were even six months ago.

Life is far from perfect, but it is better than it was a year ago, far better. Getting better is a process, getting well is a dream, maybe even a pipe dream. Better is a goal. And I do all of this praising my savior who makes it all possible.

Jesus wept, Lazarus laughed, Megan died, and as for me... I am a better man than I was before I knew all of these things. Praise God!

RefuJesus-The Commentary

There's an old saying, if at first you don't succeed... I put it to the test today at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Shreveport. The sermon I preached today, "RefuJesus" is a version 2.0. I preached it three years ago at First-Marshall after having learned several lessons. Let me tell you what I learned and what I changed.

This time, I was certain to tell the congregation in no uncertain terms that this concept, the refugee status of Jesus and the Holy Family in Egypt was new to me too. At least twice I said this was new, different, and not the most orthodox way of looking at the flight to Egypt. I also mentioned it was still biblical.

By the way, as a version 2.0 I was not being dishonest saying this was new because the first time it was new and it did freak me out as much as it did and should freak out anybody who read this for the first time. I was sharing my honest first impressions.

The reader and listener will also notice that when I gave my version of the Nativity/Wise Man/First Part of Today's Reading, I used some emotionally charged language. I did this because I wanted people to react to the word of God and how it would look if it were happening today. I wanted us to be uncomfortable.

And that's why I used the Fosdick quote: "The purpose of the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

In short, I don't think the purpose of the gospel is to always make us feel better about ourselves. But I do believe that it should always make us know that our hope is in the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's not in our stuff. It's not in our skill. It's in our Lord.

That's the purpose behind sharing the Isaiah quote. Isaiah was sharing a reflection of God's mercy remembered while foreshadowing the work of Christ to come. How great is that?

In the end, there seemed to be two reactions. Those who said it was nice to have me back and those who said they really, really loved the sermon. I must admit, when a pastor lays it all out, and in my opinion that sermon is a one not everyone is ready (or maybe even willing?) to hear (can I refer you back to the congregation that heard a lesser version?).

But then again, Preaching and Worship professors constantly reminded us that the pulpit should always be approached with fear and trepidation. Yet, it should always be approached in the confidence of Christ.

There is no better tightrope in the world. Thanks to the good people of Broadmoor Presbyterian for walking it with me this morning. Thank you and God bless.

Heroes of the Faith

People often wonder which person in the bible they most resemble. The most assertive of us pick Paul or Deborah. Some of us who are good disciples who are also known to say the wrong thing from time to time pick Peter.

As for me, I'm a lot like this guy from Mark's gospel...

When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:15-24, NRSV)

Those of you who know scripture know Jesus healed the boy, telling his disciples that to banish this spirit requires prayer. Those of you who didn't, well, spoiler alert.

What I love about this man is his honesty, "I believe; help my unbelief!" He knows who Jesus is and he knows what can happen when Emmanuel, God with us, is with us. Still, the things he has seen in his life cause him not to believe.

I know how he feels.

In seminary, they teach us something important about the kingdom of God, it is happening now, and it's not happening yet. We do live in a world where Christ is King of kings. He is Lord of lords. There is nothing that he cannot do. There is no foe he cannot face. Jesus of Nazareth who died conquered death. He conquered death. Yet, we live in a world where politicians fight for what we laughingly call power. Despots behave like "little tin gods." Horror and shame thrive where there should be peace and grace. We live in a world where it looks like God can be ignored, like Jesus' redeeming work has no effects at all. We live in a world that is redeemed, yet we can't turn on the news without knowing that the world doesn't look like it has been.

The redeeming work of Christ is done; now, but not yet.

This is how I live into this Father's words, "I believe; help my unbelief!" I believe, I know. Yet I also know the pain and despair and shame this world heaps on its inhabitants.

To me, this man's heroism is his honesty, before the Lord his God he knows and he tells the whole truth. He knows and he fears and he shares both with Jesus and with the world. He may not have made his way into Hebrews 11 nor will he ever be listed among the great heroes of scripture. Despite his place in history I say this, he's a hero.

He's one of my heroes. The greater hero of course is Jesus. He did what he said he would do. He did everything he said he would do. That is heroic.

Where I Was Eleven Years Ago

Eleven years ago today didn't begin like any other day. I was in my second week of seminary. My first class was at 9:00 on Tuesdays, Old Testament with the Rev. Dr. Kathryn Roberts. That day we were learning the Hebrew alphabet--our Alph, Beth, Gimel's. About 10:00 Central, the halls began to buzz. It was my second week at school. I didn't know the rhythms. Classes were about to change. I didn't know what was going on.

After class, I needed to go to the Financial Aid Office. There seemed to be a bit of extra hustle and bustle that morning, but again, I didn't know the rhythm of the place so I didn't know anything was unusual.

When I got into the office of Glenna Balch, the seminary's Director of Financial Aid, she was listening to the radio. On second thought, in this time before smart phones and good radio on the internet, people seemed to be huddled around radios. I asked what was up and she told me.

She told me everything she knew.

Together we listened to the radio.

After a while I noticed this was the moment when I knew what the people who first heard Orson Wells' "War of the Worlds" felt. There was a big difference though, this time it was real. Listening to the world crumble before your very ears is frightening. We were over 1,700 miles from ground zero and it was frightening.

As I said, this time it was real, yes, but I imagine you know what I mean when I say it was as surreal as it was real. Incomplete news reports, the Today Show switched to the live feed (it's a time zone thing), the Pentagon had been hit, the towers had fallen within the last hour, and United flight 93 was minutes away from falling. There was a lot more to come too.

Marie had become very sick, how sick we wouldn't know until November, and I had to get back to our seminary apartment to see how she was doing.

That night there was a meeting with the Austin Police Department, we were a low-level target. Then again, anyplace in the capital city of the President's home state was a low-level target. Training schools for Christian Clergy north of the University of Texas rated just below government buildings.

Eleven years later Osama Bin Laden is dead, the Iraqi Husseins are dead, much of the Old Guard Al-Queda leadership is dead. Thousands of American servicemen are dead and injured too. I can't tell you how it changed me. So much has changed since that fateful day I don't know what was because of 9/11 and what was because of my vocation in a post-9/11 world.

This I can say... God bless us everyone.

For those who died that day, Lord hear our prayers. For those who were hurt and injured, Lord hear our prayers. For the families of those who lost someone they loved, Lord hear our prayers. For the FDNY and the NYPD, Lord hear our prayers. For those who keep us safe in the military, Lord hear our prayers. For those in harm's way, Lord hear our prayers.

What Doesn't Make It Into a Sermon

When I was writing the sermon last week, I began with a bit on what it takes to write a sermon. Frankly, it didn't belong in the sermon so it never made it there. This is a good thing. But still, I believe there are some words that may be valuable about the creation of "the interpretation of the Word of God."

Hope you enjoy... of course if you don't there are those "reaction buttons" at the bottom of the page and as always, a place for comments.

There are days when writing the sermon is easy. Those are days to be reckoned. No matter how easy the gospel seems to be, no matter how easy the words seem to come, the easy sermons are always the ones that lead us into peril.

The hazards of the sermon make themselves known in many ways. Some days they come up as a just a surface rendering of scripture. These days the sermon is like a wood veneer on some sort of cabinet. The outside says it’s oak, but on the inside it’s just so much sawdust and glue. It looks sturdy, but in truth, once the rubber meets the road, it’s not durable at all.

Another way the sermon can become a hazard is when the sermon is all sunshine and flowers. The opposite side of this same coin is when the sermon is nothing but doom and gloom. Neither of these sermons can carry the full weight of the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of them discounts the reality of sin and devastation while the other foregoes the reality of grace and redemption. The promises made by both of these sermons are incomplete. Yes, there is sin and devastation and there is grace and redemption, but one without the other is imperfect.

There is another quality to the sermon which when neglected causes the word of God to sound like a banging gong or crashing cymbal, a lack of love. The better way to say that for this situation is a lack of pastoral care.

Extending that musical instrument metaphor, I know that God will use me as his instrument. In God’s way, one of the extremes of how I will be used as his instrument is like a fine Stradivarius violin. This instrument, in the hands of a master will be in total harmony. The music will be finely tuned. The melody will be exquisite. The song will give glory to the one who plays it. In fact, while the Stradivarius is the finest violin ever made, its only glory comes from the one who plays it.

The other extreme is that God can play me like a cowbell; a one note, 1-2-3-4, hit-it-hard, keep-the-time cowbell. It’s useful. It keeps time as well as the one who hits it, and if it’s the Lord our God banging on the cowbell, it will be perfect. Of course, there are other ways to keep time. If all I can be in the pulpit is a cowbell, then the Lord can easily have me replaced.

In short, I need to approach sermons, and all of life, in a pastoral way. A way that glorifies God, shares the Gospel with the world, and sends us into the world to live the life God wants us to live. Let’s just say that this week; I have been played like a cowbell, hoping not to preach God’s word with the substance and nutritional value of cotton candy

All or Nothing

Earlier today I was at a meeting of clergy. By the way, if you ever want to sit in a meeting with forty people who love the sound of their own voice, clergy meetings are the way to go.

During the time for prayer, one of the women in the group asked us to pray because the State of California was looking into getting "gay textbooks" into the schools. She said she saw it on "60 Minutes" last night and she knows that if we don't stem the tide now, it's just going to keep on going. (I didn't see the show, so I what I say is not based on the story, but on her reaction to it.)

The "Amen Corner" was in full voice. Now, cut to last month...

The meeting begins with a devotional. The June meeting featured a piece originally published in an Baptist (sorry, don't know which branch) magazine on death and dying by Henri Nouwen. It was a lovely piece that she read and from what she read the article was well done.

Now my questions:

Did she know Henri Nouwen was gay?

If you have any question that the answer to this question is "yes" then read the Nouwen biography "Wounded Prophet" by Michael Ford.

Here's my point: To hold up the spirituality of a gay man in one breath and condemn gayness in text books because "it's going to infect us all" displays hypocrisy or ignorance. I don't know which is which, I just know neither is good.

Here's the next point: Nobody should throw labels around without knowing where they land.

Here's my last point: I know this is true because I have an open account at the plate glass company to replace the walls in my own house. I have violated these rules, so believe me when I tell you I am sensitive about this.

Ignorance is a lack of information, so friends GET INFORMED before throwing out holier-than-thou statements. It's all or nothing people, you can't cast judgment against one without casting the same an all. So beware, you never know where it's going to fall next.

Change That Never Comes Easily Will Continue Not To Come Easily

It appears that sometime this afternoon or this evening, The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. will pass amendment 10-A (The full text of the amendment can be found on pages1-2 on this link.). In a prior blog post, I wrote "Many say this is the amendment about allowing the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians. It is more accurate to say this amendment allows for the nomination to ordained office for gays and lesbians." A friend reminded me that this is not the only truth.

The passage of this amendment will also allows heterosexuals involved in sexual relationships outside of marriage to be ordained and installed. (I always knew this was true. I myself have taken a gracious path with betrothed, engaged, and "engaged" persons involved in ministry.) He has also reminded me this prohibition has touched older members of the church in committed relationships who don't marry because of decreases in pension and social security benefits between two singles and one couple. I forgot all about them.

Some would say the second paragraph isn't the point, the prohibition was written to deal with gays and lesbians, not heterosexuals. To this I say "It always stinks when law is interpreted as written and not as originally intended or envisioned." Believe me, those pensioners who are "living in sin" were not the target of this rule, but they were under it.

Anyway, after today and effective July 11ish, this will no longer be true. So what do I hope comes of this?

Hope 1--Humility in celebration, graciousness in defeat. This is the third time this change has come before the church and it will change this time. I honestly don't recall the "global" reaction the last time the church finished voting on this, and maybe that's a good thing. I hope beyond hope that this is how the church will respond, by forgetting the way everybody responded the last two times. But after reading white letters, blogs, and tweets from both sides of the issue, I have only limited expectations of this outcome.

Bruce Reyes Chow was the Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA). In a recent twitter post he wrote, When ordination standards change in the Presbyterian Church (USA) I hope one expression of my joy will be graciousness. Wonderfully said, elegantly written.

Hope 2--A sense of scope and perspective beyond "I have such a complete handle on the word of God I know for a fact that if the vote doesn't go my way a hard rain is going to fall." Pardon this snarky hope, but so often people on both sides of the Presbyterian Ordination Argument have in one way or another said just this. Yes, I say both sides.

Michael Jinkins is the President of Louisville Seminary and said this today on the Faith and Leadership blog:

Whenever I hear someone say that the situation we face now is graver, more challenging than any we have ever faced, I stifle a laugh. Our low point surely was at the beginning of the Christian movement. We muttered and worried in that room long ago and could not imagine that Christ was raised from the dead, risen with healing in his wings, and with his death and resurrection had judged even our highest aspirations as inadequate. He pronounced our greatest hopes as infinitely too small.

Friends, it's not the end of the world. (That isn't scheduled until later this month.) The church has had many moments of controversy and has had it's embarrassing and shameful moments. But guess what, this is nothing compared to what the first disciples knew after the scene in Gethsemane and before the Resurrection. Nothing.

So friends in Christ, Christians of the Presbyterian Church (USA) persuasion, after tonight's votes, pray. Pray for the church. Pray for your friends. Pray especially for your friends who don't agree with you. There is going to be a change and change never comes easily. This change is going to be particularly charges.

On, and one more thing: Go and serve God.  In the end, that's the only change God really honors. If we do nothing, who the church ordains will not matter a lick.

Half-Baked

I hate half-baked thoughts. I have so many that I have gotten over them, but they are bothersome, particularly when it comes to blogging.

As I have admitted in this very cyberspace, my thoughts on the death of Osama Bin Laden bother me. It's great that the perpetrator of so much death is now dead, but is causing more death reason for celebration? I think the answer is yes, some. How much is too much, as my friend said "unseemly," is the big question I'm not prepared to answer.

Yesterday the Presbyterian Fellowship (mentioned in my "The Sly Is Falling" post) sent out its next letter. They talk about "Dual Citizenship" in the PC(USA), in the "regular" denomination and in their new "more obedient" version. The full text of the letter can be found here. Again, they say they don't want to leave the church, they just want to be a safe haven for the "like minded."

This time, I'm going to take a day or two before responding. I'm not going to jump head long into where angels fear to tread.

But I think the beginning of what I have to say is this, as the "fat kid" and now the "fat man" I have long known what it's like to be on the outside. From kickball to dating to seeking a call, I have often been on the outside looking in. Suddenly, people who have traditionally done the excluding see themselves as the excluded, and it bugs me.

Whatever, I haven't figured it out yet. Maybe a big part of what I need to mull over is where my arrogance and my ignorance come together as I consider the words of others. Thanks be to the God who knows the answers, even the ones that don't get shared.

On the Death of Osama Bin Laden

It was a Tuesday morning at seminary in Austin, Texas, I was learning the Hebrew alphabet. After class I went to the Financial Aid Office because I needed to do some paperwork. It was there that I heard of the attacks on the World Trade Center. Listening to it on the radio was surreal. It was like listening to H.G.Wells "War of the Worlds," but this time it was real.

Last night, just after midnight, I couldn't sleep so I turned the TV on to ESPN. After about a minute I noticed the "BREAKING NEWS" logo at the bottom of the screen. This is where I learned of the death of Osama Bin Laden. I changed to the news and watched. Since then I have wondered how to respond to the death of a terrorist who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans. Rabbi Shmuli Boteach has posted his response on algemeiner.com. I enjoy much of what he has to say.

But let me start with where I disagree. He says "Judaism stands alone as a world religion in its commandment to hate evil." He goes on to say that Christians don't understand the words of Jesus, he knows that because he has studied the New Testament and has even published a book sourcing it throughly. Let me take this sidetrack for a criticism of the Rabbi, what Christians call commentary and Jews call midrash exist to help teach and understand the word of God. You are allowed your commentary, but as I am unqualified to teach you your faith, you are equally unqualified to teach me mine. Instead, let's find common ground.

Saying that, his closing comment is where the rubber hits the road:

"I hate Osama bin Laden but I will not rejoice in his death. It would have been better for the world had he never been born. But once he was, and once he directed his life to unspeakable cruelty, it was necessary for him to be stopped and killed. And for that I give thanks to G-d and the brave soldiers of the American military for making the world a safer, more just, and innocent place."

These are good words.

Evil is to be hated. Evil is to be fought. Justice is to be honored and celebrated. Death is to be mourned. To dance on one grave is to dance on all of them. Honor the soldiers who won this battle. Honor the soldiers who have fallen fighting this battle. Know that it was necessary to end the reign of terror caused by Osama Bin Laden and know that the battle doesn't end with his death.

So these are my first words on the death of Osama Bin Laden. My problem with my own words is that right now it seems like wet concrete. There is plenty of substance, but it's not ready to bear the full weight of what it will eventually support. I guess there is nothing to do but let it cure until it can bear the full weight.

Someone wrote last night that the celebrations of Bin Laden's death were unseemly. I agree with him, but I understand this spontaneous, emotional outburst. Catharsis is never tidy.

Voting on the Will of God

This is a section of the sermon I preached today titled "His" on Matthew 6:24-34. This section deals with Matthew 6:33 and its role in the Presbyterian Church (USA) during this round of voting on amendments from the General Assembly.  I guess in a way when we vote on the amendments, in essence, we will vote on the will of God.  As true as this is, let us come together in discernment. 

This leads us to one more matter that we must examine on account of this passage, discerning his kingdom and his righteousness. The best example for me to bring up today is the biennial root canal that is the General Assembly of the PC(USA). This is a place where good Christian men and women come together to discern God’s will for the denomination and for the whole Body of Christ. As is the norm when good Christian men and women come together to discern God’s will, people will often reach opposite conclusions regarding the best way to strive for the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 

What I find distressing is not that we disagree. I’m distressed when we insult and revile another in God’s name. I have seen fear and shame and anger do their level best to overwhelm love. Often people are so blind to their own words that not only is grace lacking, but so is confession that no one person has had all the answers since the guy on the cross. 

Yet as we strive for the kingdom of God and his righteousness together, we are able to discern God’s way and wisdom for our lives. In Committees, in Session and in Presbytery and in General Assembly, we are more apt to discern God’s wisdom than when we work alone. When we hear the opinions of others, especially when we disagree, we are more likely to learn from one another. 

Next weekend, this feast of discernment makes its way to Dallas where Grace Presbytery will vote on the amendments sent by the General Assembly to the presbyteries. So now, let us pray not for a side to win the day, but that as a Presbytery we strive for his kingdom and his righteousness.

Well, I said it, so it's time for me to own it.  Recently on this very blog, I posted a pretty snarky group of remarks to a letter sent by a group of Presbyterian Men who are mostly (43 our of 45) "big steeple" pastors.  Frankly, I regret the way I said what I said.  I don't regret my intent, but I do regret my execution.  There were other posts that made the points I wanted to make so much more eloquently.  I wish I could find them so I could share them.  Alas...

Still, let us pray for discernment for the whole denomination and for the whole church as we approach the mercy seat of God to do the work of the denomination.  Let us be holy.  Let us be holy together.

Ration after the Irrational

Some of my friends have been trying to make sense of the violence of this weekend. Shoot, I gave it a shot in yesterday's sermon myself. Still, there is a danger in all of this.

These acts yesterday were the acts of a man with real mental trouble. I am not fit to diagnose, not will I ever be called upon to judge his mental health. But after hearing some interviews and seeing his YouTube videos, he did not seem to be in perfect mental health to me.

So when people of good conscience try to make conclusions beyond his actions, there will be some lapses.It's inevitable! What Jared Loughner did was beyond reason. Some political rhetoric in the Cable News Sphere and the Talk Radio Sphere and the BlogoSphere and the Twittersphere and whatever other else spheres are out on the other side of civility too. But to connect the two, trying to create a relationship that says one causes the other is perilous at best.

Friends, don't try to make sense of the acts of a killer. It's not going to help. What we must do is take responsibility for our own actions, our own speech, and our own images. Which reminds me, this isn't the first time a "peace sign" has been replaced by the Mercedes-Benz logo, but can we try to make it the last?

The PC (USA) New Form of Government

This weekend Grace Presbytery, the organization of PC (USA) churches in northeast Texas, voted on the PC (USA) New Form of Government. It passed at about a 4-1 margin. The questions and discussion on the matter generally took one of two paths.

The first was whether this new form of government would maintain the ordination restrictions (fidelity and chastity to those who know the restrictions by those terms) found in the current Form of Government. The answer to that question is "yes." This question was asked four times by three persons and each time the answer was "yes." (People, pay attention!) Along this line was also a question about whether the definition of marriage would change. The answer is "no" because the definition of marriage is not found in the form of government, either in the current or proposed forms. This is found in the Directory for Worship, which is a part of the Book of Order but not a part of the Form of Government.

The second path dealt with something far different and in my opinion more important. This path seems to me to be the matter of trust.

To me, one of the things the new Form of Government will force Presbyterians to do is move from a starting point of function in our governance to one of formation, spiritual formation and congregational/denominational formation. It will force us to ask who we are before settling on how we do it. I believe this is a good thing.

As long as I have been an active member of the church, it has seemed that the upper governing bodies, from the Session to the General Assembly, have had more to do with how than who.

One speaker said that this new form was based on trust, a trust that he did not find in any of the four Presbyteries in which he has served, so he was speaking against the amendment. I agree with him, it is a matter of trust and that's the crux of the matter. The general line of this path seemed to be how can we trust others to follow the rules if we our new form of government doesn't have hard and fast rules? Because of this, there is a basic mistrust and fear that there are a significant number of people trying to "skirt the rules" and "get away with something."

As much as I would like to join hands and sing Kum-ba-Yah, I must say that he has a point. Trust must be developed. But honestly, let us look at what we share. We completely and absolutely share vocation and ordination. For those who say "no they don't" I ask you who "they" are. When you decide, then I say talk to them and find out. I believe that if we are called to be about formation, if we are to be about something more than a book of rules, if we are to be the children of the living God, the God who became man and walked among us, we have to do what he did--we have to get to know one another.

This fear of mistrust is real, but as with all holy fear it must be dealt with in the holiest way possible. Maybe we should do it like Jesus did in Luke, over a good meal. Let's get to know each other, let trust and grace take hold of our relationships, and then we just might discover that a book of rules is silly in the life of Christ.

Who Is My Nieghbour?

Get the spelling? I'm hooking in with the Stones tune title.



This week's gospel reading the story of the Good Samaritan. So here's the big question this lesson asks, "Who's my neighbor?" Who indeed.

Let's just say that as for me with the new Arizona Immigration law, I'm waiting for the head of the Hopi and Navajo nations to enter the state house and send everyone without papers back to where they came from.

What, they were born in America? Well shoot, without identity papers I don't know if that matters.

Rule of law is one thing, but legalistic is quite another. The biggest problem with a legalistic society is when the rules get turned in ways that were never expected.

Legalism & facebook

Recently, I have seen groups on facebook hoping for the death of President Obama. That's right, people who would never actively do anything to harm or support harming the president are joining facebook groups hoping, praying, and/or seeking the president's death.

They don't necessarily advocate assassination, but they certainly aren't against a rapidly progressing disease.

Please, people, how gross is that?

So yesterday, I asked this question on my status:

I am reading posts advocating death and hate and other posts advocating silencing those voices. Question: Unless there in something in the "Terms of Service," to the contrary; does facebook have the right to censor any voice? Yes, even voices that spew ignorance (I'll let you decide what accounts for ignorance if you'll allow me the same.).

Well, folks were not all pleased with my question, for the most obvious reasons. Later in the day I posted that this question is a legal question for all of the scribes and Pharisees on facebook (and I can certainly be enough of a scribe to ask a legal question). It's a legal question with a legal answer. In this case, as in so many others, this law has nothing to do with love.

An aside: Once in college, I coordinated a graffiti wall for Student Activities on Valentines Day. I let people leave messages for everyone to see all over several bulletin boards in the College Commons. Yes, there was one rule to the graffiti wall: If I found it offensive, it was gone. I would take an exacto-knife and cut out the offending patch and staple in fresh paper in its stead. If any one asked what right I had to do the editing it was simple. It was my program, they were my rules, and the rules were posted, If I was the arbiter of propriety then it was my decision and it's as simple as that. (Yes, I did cut out profane and overly lurid posts.) I set myself up as judge and jury and had the disciplinary action set. You could post as much profanity as you wanted, I would just come back and cut it out. If you didn't like it, then don't post.

I mention this because I know facebook must have something about threatening speech in their "Terms of Service." It's all about enforcement. Outside of this legal thing, I believe there is no place in our world in hoping and praying for death. The Lord is the Lord of life, not the Lord of death. Especially friends in service to God in these groups should know better than praying for the death of any soul.

In the mean time, I just hope that everyone who has joined such a group or made such a post won't be too surprised when the Secret Service knocks on their door and makes their lives miserable for a season or two. As the old song goes, don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide.

In the meantime, a little Elvis Costello asking the musical question this post begs to be answered:

Blogging off of the top of my head

Dear Readers,
This is an open letter responding to an email I received and a news story posted in The Carroll County News and on ky3.com. The long and the short of it, as I noted in an earlier blog post, Berryville Mayor Tim McKinney enjoys a good drink and a little toke of the ganja and was found with both behind he wheel of his truck twice inside of twelve months.

Let's start here: Bad, very bad behavior. Impaired driving--whether you're drinking, toking, texting, doing a crossword puzzle, or whatever impairs your behavior behind the wheel--is very bad behavior and in some instances criminal. These behaviors have cause death and destruction in many lives and horror in every American community. Families have been ripped apart. People walk wounded both physically and emotionally and psychologically. Choosing to drive without focusing your full and undivided attention to the task at hand is dangerous and irresponsible.

If it is time to ask if I have ever driven while impaired, let me remind you I used to manage a bar. Yes, I have. When I was in my teens, drinking and driving was a hobby, not a felony. Thank God I have personally and as a society most of us have gotten over that.

What's the difference between the mayor and me? I haven't driven while impaired by alcohol in about fifteen years or so. By other impediments, twenty-five plus. When you consider the mayor is nine years older than I am, the difference between us is twenty-five to thirty-five years.

I have learned a lesson that Mayor McKinney might have learned finally on March 18, 2009 in Johnson, Arkansas. I hope he did.

I have come not to praise Mayor McKinney--nor have I come to bury him. He has made his mistakes and he will continue to pay for them. One of the prices he pays is thirty-nine days in county. Another which may be more embarrassing is one of wagging tongues and blogging hands, my hands included.

Yesterday, I got an email from an acquaintance about the Carroll County News article and his fury over the paper's response. The email I got was originally addressed to his pastor, but he sent it to me too with the salutation: CC for your information........act accordingly.

He writes (yes, the contents of the letter were written in a bold italic font):
What about character, responsibility, accountability, fairness, the example an elected leader is displaying to the youth of the community? Not one single Pastor has opened his pie hole.....to condemn this type activities.........silence signifies acceptance of this type conduct.......no wonder less than 10% of our people attend church.......the McKinneys are winning them over to the drugs, alcohol, gambling, loaded weapons, etc. type activity!!!!

He continues:
[My wife] talked today about writing an editorial about McKinney. She read the newpaper and couldn't believe that right in the middle of the story about his arrests Anna Matthews talked about all of his accomplishments for the city. [My wife] said that his accomplishments are outweighed by the negative example and influence that he is having on our students. She said that it is a shame that the person whose picture is on the wall of one of the new buildings also has his picture in the paper for drug and alcohol abuse. Her quote, "What message are we sending?" I told her that she shouldn't write an editorial because there would be repercussions toward her. Resentment and Retalitation run strong in Carroll County in general and Berryville in Particular.

From here, he complains about things that are wrong (his opinion that I imagine is shared by many others) with the Berryville School District. Among the things he talks about is an emphasis on athletics which he believes to be excessive and a salary structure that does not reward the work of support staff.

I have several problems with this message:
First--Why send this to me? He sent this letter to his pastor writing at the end "Think of you a lot.....come by sometime or call me.....I still think you are my pastor, am I wrong?" Private correspondence looses something when it becomes widely distributed.

Second issue--Even in indignation, if your argument is with education and the education system, using the phrases "in a academic distress state" and "money is throwed" hardly benefits your point.

Third--Straw man issues and slippery slope arguments do nothing to help this either. Yes, drugs, alcohol, gambling, and loaded weapons are all community issues, but to blame them on one man is neither valid nor helpful.

Finally--I appreciate you inviting your pastor (and me after sending me a copy of this letter) to get into the fray so that you and your wife can be safe and secure in your cocoon. It's nice for you to warn us that "Resentment and Retalitation run strong in Carroll County in general and Berryville in Particular" and then run to the shadows of your email allowing your pastor to take the brunt of a community's "resentment and retaliation."

Jesus called us to be his disciples in the world. The great commission teaches us to "go and make disciples." He knew it would be dangerous, shoot, he was crucified and risen before he gave the great commission. But know this, Jesus never said, "Here's what I want you to do, it's going to be dangerous, still I want you to get out and do it. In the meantime I will be here staying here at home with the wife. I will check up on you though and if you don't make enough noise I will zip off another email. Remember--I pay you to do the heavy lifting now get out there and do it."

The message tells me to ........act accordingly. Now gentle reader, I invite you to judge whether I am acting accordingly. That's what the "comment box" is for.

May the peace of God be with us all,
Paul

I'm Just Sayin...

...when we learn to love as Jesus loved then we will be able to forget who we are supposed to hate.

Car Woes

Well, this is a fine kettle of fish...

I was in Little Rock from Thursday through Saturday at a conference. It was a wonderful learning experience and makes me feel quite hopeful. Unfortunately, one of the presenters said, "Beware when a pastor wakes up and thinks everything is great, because it won't be soon." Alas, she was right.

Leaving Little Rock, the tachometer (gauge that measures engine RPM's) died. This happened not too long ago--the alternator died and with it the car. Well, we got that fixed. But when the tach quit again, I figured it couldn't be any good.

I decided to drive to Conway and take a look at it there. So getting to a gas station at I-40 & US 65, I opened the hood. There was smoke coming off the engine block. Oops, this can't be good. So it's 3:00, the service place at the Hyundai dealer is closed in Conway, I'm still 3 1/2 hours from Berryville, and the sermon is ready to be typed, but it isn't typed yet. I'm stranded and hours from home.

To make a long story shorter, Marie came and got me with the help of good friends. We stayed the night because she was exhausted (I was pretty tired too, don't let me tell you it was just her) it was dark, and those corners are kind of tough on 65--especially at midnight--on the day that daylight savings time begins. We left at 7:00 this morning and I made it to church five minutes before worship.

Yes, I led worship in a t-shirt. At least it was a black tee and as bad as it must have looked, it could have been much worse.

Tomorrow I call Superior Hyundai in Conway to see what's up with the vehicle. I don't know what's going to happen next, I just don't. Will the car be fixible? How are we going to pay for it? What if it's not? How can I keep up on all of our bills with this on top of it all? But I know this, we have a wonderful church family who bolsters us. Thank God for their love and support, this is truly a spiritual gift.

Please pray for us, but pray with confidence. Glory comes, but it may look nothing like what I could ever expect. Of course, that's a part of this Sunday's sermon...