Nothing worse than An Unwatered Blog

My apologies for long time no blog.  I have several excuses to offer, but I'd have to pick just one and they are all so good...Sorry.

I came across a couple of political blogs which wrestle with the whole idea of what it means to be a Christian and a citizen.  One is much like the last blog--a ten commandment list, but a different tone and a different focus.  The other is a reflection on the last debate.  It compares our national fixation on strength over and against the Biblical obsession with Integrity.  Both are well worth reading and the links are below.

I overheard a wonderful conversation at a local restaurant this morning where I sent to get my coffee fix and catch up on some reading.  The only thing that bothered me were the generalizations which were in no way that I could tell based on anything necessarily factual.  Take out the current candidate's names and you could have put in the names of the last dozen presidential aspirants and they same arguments would have made about as much sense.  The other thing that bothered me was the approach to the whole debate could have been about Purdue Football and its current season.  It was all about "the game" and not about the purpose of the game:  teamwork, character building, entertainment, etc.  It was all about arm chair direction of fumbles and completions and which coach was stupider than the other.

Now the folks talking were obviously warm and jovial.  They believed what they believed and weren't mean spirited about it.  They were simply reflecting the way we all talk politics--or at least the way politics get covered in the media today.

No wonder so many folks throw up their hands and conclude it hardly matters who wins or who scratch their heads wondering which they should vote for.  We put more energy into tailgating than most folks put into knowing the issues and the implications of their vote for the future of our community, state, nation, and world.  It doesn't make me want to vote less, it makes me want to go out and make sure my vote counts.  This matters.  It matters to Christians even though our ultimate allegiance is the God and the Kingdom--it still matters how we live and what we prioritize here and now.

Take this as my final admonition to get out there and vote.  I would say vote early and often, but since I come from Cook County, Illinois--I'd better just suggest the one time.

http://eugenecho.com/2012/10/16/thou-shalt-follow-these-10-commandments-of-the-presidential-election-season/

http://morganguyton.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/strength-vs-integrity-a-biblical-response-to-the-presidential-debate/#more-2478

Ten Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics

   I came across a blog which referenced an article in the Macon Telegraph.  The column is from Rev. Ben Gosden who is the associate pastor at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church in Macon.  I thought the list he offers about Christians and politics was a helpful place to start in thinking through the relationship between church and state in the upcoming U.S. elections.  Nothing too radical or provocative here--but then again tried and true wisdom isn't nearly as provocative as we sometimes wish it were.
     I'll let you look them over for yourselves.  You decide what you would add or subtract from Gosden's list.

1. People in both political parties go to church. God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. No political party has a monopoly on the will of God and there are good, Christian people who affiliate with both parties.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/09/22/2185949/ten-things-christians-need-to.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/09/22/2185949/ten-things-christians-need-to.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/09/22/2185949/ten-things-christians-need-to.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=1. People in both political parties go to church. God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. No political party has a monopoly on the will of God and there are good, Christian people who affiliate with both parties.

1. People in both political parties go to church. God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. No political party has a monopoly on the will of God and there are good, Christian people who affiliate with both parties

2. Talk radio and cable “news” only want ratings -- it’s about the money. Remember, we live in a time where news stations would rather incite than inform the electorate if it means better ratings.

3. Those who argue about politics don’t love their country more than others. Our passion for issues comes out of a deep and abiding love for country. Just because someone disagrees with you does not mean they somehow hate the country.

4. Thinking a party’s platform is not flawed is a mistake. A lot of wheeling and dealing goes into forming a party’s platform. Compromises are made and it quickly becomes a document for a large group of constituents. This means it attempts to please everyone in one way or another. Think of it as more of a work-in progress.

5. Scripture tells us to pray for governing leaders (2 Timothy 2: 1-4) and to respect those in authority (Romans 13: 1-7) -- whether we voted for them or not. When we mock or denigrate current or future leaders, the Holy Spirit is grieved. Christians are called to offer a witness to the world that rises above name-calling and insults. Period.

6. Don’t be paranoid. America has functioned and even thrived under both Democrat and Republican leadership. God is the only one truly in charge. Great leaders come in all shapes and sizes. We will not fall apart as a nation as a result of a single election.

7. Stop saying, “This is the most important election in our history.” We’re not nearly as unique as we might want to think we are. There will be another election and another one after that. We’re all striving to grow and become a better nation with every election.

8. Don’t spread those toxic political e-mails. Be the one to stop the circulation of propaganda-driven materials. Lovingly ask friends to stop sending them to you and be a witness for civility.

9. Don’t circulate partisan materials at your church. Encouraging people to vote is good. Telling them who to vote for from the pulpit or any other sacred space is not why the church exists.

10. Hold a prayer service the day after Election Day. With Election Day on a Tuesday, this could be a great way to use your weekly Wednesday time at church. Hold a service of prayer. Open your church all day for people to drop in and pray. Distribute liturgy and prayers for our nation and encourage people to make that a part of their day. We are the church, and that means we’re a people called to prayer.

I like the idea behind number 10.  What if we plan a prayer service for our Wednesday evening service the day after the election and pray for our leaders--no matter what the outcome of that election (see number 5 above)?  Every election is important and there are plenty of important decisions that need to get made and won't get made until the election is over.  Let's pray for that together:  Democrats and Republicans united in our love for God and our commitment to embodying the character of Jesus Christ.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/09/22/2185949/ten-things-christians-need-to.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Food For Thought Wednesday 9-26

     We will stay with Amos for another week.  We didn't so much get to income disparity and the biblical response.  So let's try and spend some time talking about that tomorrow morning.  I'm particularly interested in what the Bible says about those who have no earning power--about those who are dependent on the generosity of others and the larger community.  Where does that come from?  Other than God, of course.  In a world that was all about might makes right how in the world did the Hebrew culture come to value care for those who could not care for themselves?
     You've got your widows, orphans, sojourners, and to a lesser extent slaves.  What do these folks have in common?  What is their equivalent today?
   And why don't these modern poor or their equivalent earn greater discussion from our presidential candidates and the press that is covering our upcoming elections?  Check out the following link.
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120923/OPINION1805/309230009/Candidates-ignoring-struggles-working-poor?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cp
    Otherwise, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning at Greyhouse.  If you're looking for a safe place to park, try the Eastside of the Morton Center's parking lot.  We've got their permission to use it from 7:45 until 9:45 a.m.

Food For Thought -- Wednesday 9-19, Greyhouse, 8 AM

     We looked at a modern, sarcastic take on some of Jesus' parables which raise the issues of money and power and the distribution of both.   I passed out some pamphlets that were made up basically of the book of Amos.  I thought we'd read through Amos the next couple of weeks and see if a disparity between rich and power is something that gets God hot under the collar when it comes to His children.
   I also found a pretty substantial analysis of what the author calls The Great Divergence.  I haven't read it yet but being an old fashioned guy I did print it off.  I should have looked more closely.  It was 40 pages long!  You can find it on the web site for Slate.  Specifically you can find it at:             http://img.slate.com/media/3/100914_NoahT_GreatDivergence.pdf
    If this poses too big an article to read by tomorrow, you might try a piece in The Atlantic.  It's about where we rank as a country in income discrepancy: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/09/map-us-ranks-near-bottom-on-income-inequality/245315/  (I don't want to be the one to point out that it isn't pretty)
     If this is the kind of thing that interests you I would also recommend Rediscovering Values by Jim Wallis.  It is one of the most comprehensive discussions of economics through the eyes of Christ that I have ever come across.  Last week's excerpt was from that book.
    I would also recommend you checking out Brian McLaren's post on CNN about evangelical Christians and Islam (in light of the recent attacks).  You can find that at:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/15/my-take-its-time-for-islamophobic-evangelicals-to-choose/
McLaren has just come out with a new book, cleverly entitled, Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?  I'm giving serious thought to inviting you all to read through it with me or just come and discuss ideas about the best way to witness to our faith in a multi-cultural/multi-faith world.
     Hope to see you in the morning.

Interesting Take on The Third Commandment

I came across an interesting blog talking about what it means to use the Lord's name in vain and how we transgress that commandment again and again in our contemporary politics.  It's worth a quick read. Check it out:

http://www.redletterchristians.org/god-doesnt-want-to-be-in-our-platform/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RedLetterChristians+%28Red+Letter+Christians%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

It's a sobering warning for followers of Jesus to be very careful about how we use God's name and what we claim for God when we communicate to others.

Who Would Jesus Heal?

     Next Wednesday, September 12th, at 8 a.m. I am going to be in the back room over at the Greyhouse Coffee House at the corner of Northwestern and 26.  I invite you to get a cup of tea or coffee, grab a muffin or crepe and join me for an hour or so of lively conversation.
      I was struck by three parables that were rewritten or reimagined by a well known Catholic Priest.  Though I think they lack a great deal in the subtly department--and though I would quibble with various points of overstated sarcasm along the way--I think they might generate some excellent discussion.  I would challenge those who read them and find them offensive or off putting to try and think how you might retell those parables from the other side.  I don't think that it would be too hard to do at all.  You can find the parables by following the link printed here:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-james-martin-sj/the-not-so-social-gospel_b_1825810.html#s308815&title=Luke_62021

     At the same time, I've been intrigued with an illustration Jim Wallis offers supposedly drawn from biblical archeology.  I don't know how to verify or discredit it, but assuming it is true it has a powerful prophetic word for America and our economic policies.  You can click on the following jpg files and get them large enough to read or I'm guessing you can print them off on your printer as well.

    I want to be clear that this gathering is not an official 'class'.  I'm planning to teach anything.  I'm simply interested in hearing what other Christians are thinking about as we struggle to make heads or tails out of the world we live in.  We'll talk some on Wednesday about what we'll be looking at in the weeks ahead.  If you're up and need a jolt of caffeine or a faith perspective to carry you over the hump and through the week--please join me.

What A Trip To The ER Can Teach Us

   Our Bishop, Mike Coyner, was on vacation out of state when his wife Marsha grew ill and had to be taken to the emergency room.  Her illness required some kind of surgical procedure, but not one that kept her at the hospital over night.  Bishop Coyner, in one of his recent posts, made the following observations about what the church can learn from his experience about hospitality.


As I reflected on that experience in the "strange" hospital in the "strange" city, I wondered how many congregations would measure up to their standard. Let me list a few of the ingredients of the hospitality of that hospital to allow you to compare to your congregation:

1. Excellent signage so I could find the ER entrance even in the dark of night
2. Free and plentiful parking
3. A person greeting us as soon as we entered - who took us to the right place to start the admission process (she did not just point and tell us where to go)
4. An admissions person who was an RN and really knew how to ask the appropriate questions to determine the level of medical care needed
5. Prompt attention from a nurse and then a physician (we waited less than 10 minutes)
6. Many expressions of care, asking about Marsha's level of pain, offering words of comfort, and many comments about "I am so sorry that has happened during your vacation."
7. No one - NOT ONE PERSON - looked or acted strangely toward us since we were from another state and not "local" persons. Everyone treated us with respect and courtesy.
8. The volunteer staff in the surgical waiting room gave me a pager (like you get in some restaurants when you wait to be seated) that would locate me anywhere in the hospital when they needed to alert me how Marsha was doing. Those same volunteer staff took the time to show me to the next location where I needed to wait for Marsha in recovery. Just like the greeter listed in #3 above, they did not point and tell me where to go, they took me since I was obviously new and did not know my way around
9. The doctor gave me his business card and wrote his cell phone number on the back, saying, "I know you are new to this area, so if anything goes wrong or if you have any further concerns or questions, just call me - even if it is 2 a.m."
10. The volunteer who wheeled Marsha out to my car took the time to offer suggestions for places we could visit during the remainder of our vacation, since our plans for bike-riding were changed by her medical situation.

I could name others, but you get the point. Hospitality means caring enough to put oneself into another "shoes" and to try to provide for their needs even before being asked. Hospitality is really about the Golden Rule of Jesus: doing for others what we would want done for us.

   Hospitality is something we do naturally in our homes or in our businesses.  It is more than being just polite or well mannered.  It is one of the most forward leaning habits of Christian kindness.  And it is something we have to always work on when we attend worship or other events at our church.  Jesus is the host, ultimately, but in the meantime since St. Andrew is OUR church we are the stand-ins for our Master.  Even though I hope that we will move beyond "making room for those God sends to us" to seeking out our prodigal brothers and sisters and bringing them back home to God--we can never lose sight of the life-changing experience of radical hospitality.  May we never forget to put ourselves in the shoes of those who make the leap to try some aspect of our congregational life--doing for others what Jesus so extravagantly did and does for us.