A. Unabashed Pacifist:
My cease-fire is permanent.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The bliss just keeps coming.
Your blessings astound me, for you fill my life with good things, good people, beautiful houses, fantastic surroundings, loving family.
It’s really more than I could have hoped.
I wonder whether the character Job would have done better to give thanksgiving offerings rather than sin offerings.
I always prefer thanks over guilt.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Mom, can we have bacon for breakfast in the morning?”
[They didn’t know about turkey-bacon, so no, He never said it.]
D. Blog: Judgment
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 9)
(20) What scripture did you read from other religions?
(19) If asked to give a reference for judging you, what might Earth say?
(18) How does your spiritual outlook differ from that of your parents and teachers?
(17) Who or what were the three greatest influences on your spiritual development?
(16) What did you do for the poor? Single mothers? The blind? Children? Homosexuals? Victims of disease, disaster, hunger, poverty, crime?
(15) How did you express love for the world God loves?
(14) What atheist or agnostic did you admire?
(13) Can you name two persons from other religions who you think should be considered saints?
(12) How many trees did you plant?
(11) How did you demonstrate enemy love?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Gated "Community"?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Let your voice be heard. Wear a peace button and avoid clothing that advertises commercial interests.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I see no limit to your goodness.
I see no limit to your love.
I see no limit to your acceptance.
I see no limit to your forgiveness.
I see no limit to your compassion.
I see no limit to our oneness.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Why do I always have to clean up the mess?”
[I can imagine it, the poor kid, but He probably didn’t say it.]
D. Blog: Gated “Communities”
When she said she wanted to move from her beautiful five-year-old home in a well-to-do part of town, I wondered why. As she described her reasoning, twice this retired divorcee said the new house would be in a “gated community.”
I can understand the gated part for those who think it gives them security, but I don’t get the claim of "community." The point of the gate is to keep out a whole lot of people, not to form a community. Those who live in such developments do not want to be bothered by “those people,” whether that means people of other ethnicity, another race, or most importantly, people of lesser incomes and/or education. They probably want to live in an secure neighborhood, but not in a community.
They also want gates to assure privacy, so how interested are they in being a community with their neighbors who are also primarily interested in living in an exclusive, gated neighborhood? Can it even be a “neighborhood” if they want privacy, but not interaction with those who live near them?
I am reminded of Carl Sandburg’s reply to a question in an interview with Edward R. Murrow. Murrow asked Sandburg which word in the English language he liked least. Without hesitation, Sandburg replied: “Exclusive.” It confirms his image as the poet of the people.
My impression of these gated enclaves is that they are no less than ghettos for the wealthy. I also imagine that the priest and the Levite in the Samaritan story would feel right at home in them.
Let your voice be heard. Wear a peace button and avoid clothing that advertises commercial interests.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I see no limit to your goodness.
I see no limit to your love.
I see no limit to your acceptance.
I see no limit to your forgiveness.
I see no limit to your compassion.
I see no limit to our oneness.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Why do I always have to clean up the mess?”
[I can imagine it, the poor kid, but He probably didn’t say it.]
D. Blog: Gated “Communities”
When she said she wanted to move from her beautiful five-year-old home in a well-to-do part of town, I wondered why. As she described her reasoning, twice this retired divorcee said the new house would be in a “gated community.”
I can understand the gated part for those who think it gives them security, but I don’t get the claim of "community." The point of the gate is to keep out a whole lot of people, not to form a community. Those who live in such developments do not want to be bothered by “those people,” whether that means people of other ethnicity, another race, or most importantly, people of lesser incomes and/or education. They probably want to live in an secure neighborhood, but not in a community.
They also want gates to assure privacy, so how interested are they in being a community with their neighbors who are also primarily interested in living in an exclusive, gated neighborhood? Can it even be a “neighborhood” if they want privacy, but not interaction with those who live near them?
I am reminded of Carl Sandburg’s reply to a question in an interview with Edward R. Murrow. Murrow asked Sandburg which word in the English language he liked least. Without hesitation, Sandburg replied: “Exclusive.” It confirms his image as the poet of the people.
My impression of these gated enclaves is that they are no less than ghettos for the wealthy. I also imagine that the priest and the Levite in the Samaritan story would feel right at home in them.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Chocolate Wisdom
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Hatred is a traitor to God’s peace, to any peace.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Into every life rain must fall.
Odd saying. Do we take it in the negative sense?
But rain is positively necessary.
If we want growth, rain must fall.
If we want beauty, rain must fall.
If we want cleansing, rain must fall.
If we want refreshing, rain must fall.
Let rain fall on me.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Dad, can I have a new donkey for Hannukah?“
[He was once a teenager, but He never said this.]
D. Blog: Chocolate Wisdom
- There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles
- The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE! [Terry Moore]
- All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!
[Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz]
- I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?
- The corollary to the above: mixing chocolate with peanut butter is just plain dangerous to my health!
- Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing. [Milton Snavely Hershey]
- A chocolate in the mouth is worth two on the plate.
- Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. [Judith Viorst]
- Chocolate: Here today .... Gone today!
- It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man. [Miranda Ingram]
- Nuts just take up space where chocolate ought to be.
- Exercise is a dirty word... Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
- I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter.
- Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. Chocolate isn't like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant. And it always feels good. [Lora Brody, author of Growing Up on the Chocolate Diet]
- Chocolate - The breakfast of champions!
- Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.
- Chocolate doesn't make the world go around ... but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile!
- Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can.
- Simply put... everyone has a price, mine is chocolate!
- Among life's mysteries is how a two pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain five pounds.
- Stress wouldn’t be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered.
- Will work for chocolate.
- A little too much chocolate is just about right.
- Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment.
- Nothing chocolate.... nothing gained.
- I never met a chocolate I didn't like.
Hatred is a traitor to God’s peace, to any peace.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Into every life rain must fall.
Odd saying. Do we take it in the negative sense?
But rain is positively necessary.
If we want growth, rain must fall.
If we want beauty, rain must fall.
If we want cleansing, rain must fall.
If we want refreshing, rain must fall.
Let rain fall on me.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Dad, can I have a new donkey for Hannukah?“
[He was once a teenager, but He never said this.]
D. Blog: Chocolate Wisdom
- There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles
- The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE! [Terry Moore]
- All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!
[Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz]
- I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?
- The corollary to the above: mixing chocolate with peanut butter is just plain dangerous to my health!
- Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing. [Milton Snavely Hershey]
- A chocolate in the mouth is worth two on the plate.
- Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. [Judith Viorst]
- Chocolate: Here today .... Gone today!
- It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man. [Miranda Ingram]
- Nuts just take up space where chocolate ought to be.
- Exercise is a dirty word... Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
- I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter.
- Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. Chocolate isn't like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant. And it always feels good. [Lora Brody, author of Growing Up on the Chocolate Diet]
- Chocolate - The breakfast of champions!
- Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.
- Chocolate doesn't make the world go around ... but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile!
- Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can.
- Simply put... everyone has a price, mine is chocolate!
- Among life's mysteries is how a two pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain five pounds.
- Stress wouldn’t be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered.
- Will work for chocolate.
- A little too much chocolate is just about right.
- Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment.
- Nothing chocolate.... nothing gained.
- I never met a chocolate I didn't like.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Keeping It Simple
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Making war is a waste of life. Making love is not. Make love, not war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Seconds tick away unnoticed.
Minutes pass, barely registering.
Hours may chime, but I have appointments to keep.
Days proceed in a blur of activity.
Weeks, months, even years go by and we wonder how we spent them.
In the end, we know life races while we have too often been standing still.
Help us keep up.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“So Mom tells Dad, ‘Joseph, when I said a room with a view, I didn’t mean a view of some livestock.’”
[Ah, the simple life… He never said that.]
D. Blog: A Haiku
If words improve the silence,
you’d best put them out there.
Otherwise, don’t.
Making war is a waste of life. Making love is not. Make love, not war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Seconds tick away unnoticed.
Minutes pass, barely registering.
Hours may chime, but I have appointments to keep.
Days proceed in a blur of activity.
Weeks, months, even years go by and we wonder how we spent them.
In the end, we know life races while we have too often been standing still.
Help us keep up.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“So Mom tells Dad, ‘Joseph, when I said a room with a view, I didn’t mean a view of some livestock.’”
[Ah, the simple life… He never said that.]
D. Blog: A Haiku
If words improve the silence,
you’d best put them out there.
Otherwise, don’t.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Reach for the Sky
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
I repeat my mantra: peace now, peace now, peace now, peace now, peace now.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
To live as a human being is to hope.
To live as a human being is to laugh.
To live as a human being is to sing.
To live as a human being is to love.
To live as a human being is to give thanks for living as a human being.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Reach for the sky!”
[I don’t think He knew about westerns, but if He had spoken English, maybe something like it would have made the cut for the Sermon on the Mount...]
I repeat my mantra: peace now, peace now, peace now, peace now, peace now.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
To live as a human being is to hope.
To live as a human being is to laugh.
To live as a human being is to sing.
To live as a human being is to love.
To live as a human being is to give thanks for living as a human being.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Reach for the sky!”
[I don’t think He knew about westerns, but if He had spoken English, maybe something like it would have made the cut for the Sermon on the Mount...]
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Overturning the Tables
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
When did calls for peace become unpatriotic?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
When the end comes for me on Earth, I will have no complaints. I have had a great life. I learned what a precious gift it is to be human, to have the breath of life. So precious, it has to be of divine origin. Even if I did not believe in you, life compels me to recognize it as divine in nature. No other word/concept can do it justice.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Open wide and say ‘aah’.”
[No. He practiced an alternative form of medicine.]
D. Blog: Parable
"Overturning the tables..."
Once there was a church that needed to raise money.
Someone suggested selling $50 family memorial plaques for each pew.
Someone else thought the cost could vary, depending on the
location of the pew.
When someone suggested selling the pews, the others laughed at her.
When did calls for peace become unpatriotic?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
When the end comes for me on Earth, I will have no complaints. I have had a great life. I learned what a precious gift it is to be human, to have the breath of life. So precious, it has to be of divine origin. Even if I did not believe in you, life compels me to recognize it as divine in nature. No other word/concept can do it justice.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Open wide and say ‘aah’.”
[No. He practiced an alternative form of medicine.]
D. Blog: Parable
"Overturning the tables..."
Once there was a church that needed to raise money.
Someone suggested selling $50 family memorial plaques for each pew.
Someone else thought the cost could vary, depending on the
location of the pew.
When someone suggested selling the pews, the others laughed at her.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Compassionate Conservatism???
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
We rightly criticize Nazis or Communists for brainwashing their children and youth. Yet we inculcate a similar brand of mindless patriotism that leads to wartime fervor, death, destroyed lives, and disillusion. We sacrifice young people on the altar of nation worship.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Instead of “be afraid, be very afraid,” you say “Fear not.”
Instead of “fearful, fearful, we adore you,” we sing “joyful, joyful, we adore you.”
In that is a tremendous difference.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail.”
[And in sandals, no less; but He was definitely not a Marine.]
D. Blog: Compassionate Conservatism
We can cut public insurance coverage for middle income children. Leave them behind anyway, since they can’t vote. Private insurance companies love me because the kids’ parents feel guilty if they don’t find a way to pay for the expensive coverage. -- W
“Compassionate conservatism” sounds good, but it costs too much.
I think the real message is: Have slogan, will waffle.
We rightly criticize Nazis or Communists for brainwashing their children and youth. Yet we inculcate a similar brand of mindless patriotism that leads to wartime fervor, death, destroyed lives, and disillusion. We sacrifice young people on the altar of nation worship.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Instead of “be afraid, be very afraid,” you say “Fear not.”
Instead of “fearful, fearful, we adore you,” we sing “joyful, joyful, we adore you.”
In that is a tremendous difference.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail.”
[And in sandals, no less; but He was definitely not a Marine.]
D. Blog: Compassionate Conservatism
We can cut public insurance coverage for middle income children. Leave them behind anyway, since they can’t vote. Private insurance companies love me because the kids’ parents feel guilty if they don’t find a way to pay for the expensive coverage. -- W
“Compassionate conservatism” sounds good, but it costs too much.
I think the real message is: Have slogan, will waffle.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Judgment, Part 8
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
If I sent young people to war, how would I ever sleep again?
If I sent young people to war without adequate resources, how would I ever sleep again?
If I sent young people to war by financing it with my taxes, how would I ever sleep again?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy one,
We are one.
He said it. He lived it.
We are one with you.
We seek the mirage of independence that turns into an oppressive freedom to dominate.
But we are one. Our denial brings death to us, to our spirits, to others, to Earth.
We are one.
Our monuments to self are puny, immature efforts to outlast our fears.
Because we are one, these monuments are unnecessary, worthless, a waste of life.
Because we are one, the cosmos and the life we participate in build the truly lasting and miraculous monument.
We are one, and my unique part of this whole has incalculable significance.
I am one with you.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“TGIF!!”
[Maybe because of Sabbath? Nope, wrong alphabet.]
D. Blog: Judgment
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 8)
(30) How overweight were you on Earth?
(29) Do you prefer to think of God as judging or loving? Why?
(28) If you are a Jew or a Christian, which of the Decalogue did you violate least?
(27) Why do you think God favors justice more than moral purity?
(26) Why would the Deity be male or female?
(25) What one thing you’ve done do you think pleased God most?
(24) What if you don’t meet God’s expectations?
(23) What if the Divinity does not match your expectations?
(22) Who was your favorite author? Why?
(21) How does sex fit in your spiritual life?
If I sent young people to war, how would I ever sleep again?
If I sent young people to war without adequate resources, how would I ever sleep again?
If I sent young people to war by financing it with my taxes, how would I ever sleep again?
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy one,
We are one.
He said it. He lived it.
We are one with you.
We seek the mirage of independence that turns into an oppressive freedom to dominate.
But we are one. Our denial brings death to us, to our spirits, to others, to Earth.
We are one.
Our monuments to self are puny, immature efforts to outlast our fears.
Because we are one, these monuments are unnecessary, worthless, a waste of life.
Because we are one, the cosmos and the life we participate in build the truly lasting and miraculous monument.
We are one, and my unique part of this whole has incalculable significance.
I am one with you.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“TGIF!!”
[Maybe because of Sabbath? Nope, wrong alphabet.]
D. Blog: Judgment
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 8)
(30) How overweight were you on Earth?
(29) Do you prefer to think of God as judging or loving? Why?
(28) If you are a Jew or a Christian, which of the Decalogue did you violate least?
(27) Why do you think God favors justice more than moral purity?
(26) Why would the Deity be male or female?
(25) What one thing you’ve done do you think pleased God most?
(24) What if you don’t meet God’s expectations?
(23) What if the Divinity does not match your expectations?
(22) Who was your favorite author? Why?
(21) How does sex fit in your spiritual life?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Peace With Honor
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
The peace of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I rise before the dawn.
You greet me, ready for another day together.
It takes me some time to get ready for the activities I have planned for the day.
You wait patiently for me, indulging me in the illusion that I manage my schedule.
I move out to encounter the world.
You offer me your hand.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“You made me love you; I didn’t wanna do it.”
[Of course it’s from a song, not from Him, but it would fit, wouldn’t it?]
D. Blog: Peace With Honor
What does peace with honor look like?
I can imagine war without honor – I see it now.
Is true peace ever dishonorable? I can’t imagine it.
The peace of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I rise before the dawn.
You greet me, ready for another day together.
It takes me some time to get ready for the activities I have planned for the day.
You wait patiently for me, indulging me in the illusion that I manage my schedule.
I move out to encounter the world.
You offer me your hand.
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“You made me love you; I didn’t wanna do it.”
[Of course it’s from a song, not from Him, but it would fit, wouldn’t it?]
D. Blog: Peace With Honor
What does peace with honor look like?
I can imagine war without honor – I see it now.
Is true peace ever dishonorable? I can’t imagine it.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Why Not?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
War, war, go away. Come again? Never!
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The irony of it strikes me: humans can commit bad, stupid, pointless, even utterly evil acts, but you can’t. Can you?
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Was it as good for you as it was for me?”
[The first un-clue that led Brown to the DaVinci Code, but Jesus didn’t say it.]
D. Blog: What If Christians Believed?
What if Christians truly believed Jesus lives?
- We would be energetic in helping bring about the dominion of God.
- Allegiance to country would be secondary.
- We would not participate in preparing and fighting wars.
- We would look upon people of other religions as brothers and sisters.
- We would not abuse the environment.
What if Christians truly believed death is not the end?
- We would not be co-opted by death-dealing ways of government and economy.
- We would not waste our lives on addictions and trivial pursuits.
- We would not chase after monetary gain, nor lionize those who have great amounts of money or fame.
What if Christians really believed Jesus lives?
- We would not make so big a deal of His death.
- We would have exuberant and ongoing celebration of His resurrection.
- We would be much more diligent in identifying His presence in our midst.
- We would put the Bible in its proper, historical perspective, His living presence being of more continuing importance.
- We would see that Jesus has been present and active all along in the intervening years of human history, not waiting to reappear in some fantasy end of history.
- We would not waste our time on idle speculation about “end times.”
- We would see the importance Jesus places on the dominion of God coming on Earth.
- Earthly governments would be held to account for breaking peace and justice, would reduce claims of “sovereignty.”
- We would have much greater enthusiasm for our faith in Jesus.
- We would devote our lives to Jesus, not to lesser entities and activities.
- We would be diligent in trying to know what Jesus wants of us – through prayer, scripture (especially the gospels) study, and conversation with others.
- Our lives would have a great sense of purpose and power.
- Our joy would overflow.
- We would know our worth as children of God, never to be separated from the love of God.
- We would love one another and fear no one.
War, war, go away. Come again? Never!
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The irony of it strikes me: humans can commit bad, stupid, pointless, even utterly evil acts, but you can’t. Can you?
Amen
C. Un-quoting Jesus:
“Was it as good for you as it was for me?”
[The first un-clue that led Brown to the DaVinci Code, but Jesus didn’t say it.]
D. Blog: What If Christians Believed?
What if Christians truly believed Jesus lives?
- We would be energetic in helping bring about the dominion of God.
- Allegiance to country would be secondary.
- We would not participate in preparing and fighting wars.
- We would look upon people of other religions as brothers and sisters.
- We would not abuse the environment.
What if Christians truly believed death is not the end?
- We would not be co-opted by death-dealing ways of government and economy.
- We would not waste our lives on addictions and trivial pursuits.
- We would not chase after monetary gain, nor lionize those who have great amounts of money or fame.
What if Christians really believed Jesus lives?
- We would not make so big a deal of His death.
- We would have exuberant and ongoing celebration of His resurrection.
- We would be much more diligent in identifying His presence in our midst.
- We would put the Bible in its proper, historical perspective, His living presence being of more continuing importance.
- We would see that Jesus has been present and active all along in the intervening years of human history, not waiting to reappear in some fantasy end of history.
- We would not waste our time on idle speculation about “end times.”
- We would see the importance Jesus places on the dominion of God coming on Earth.
- Earthly governments would be held to account for breaking peace and justice, would reduce claims of “sovereignty.”
- We would have much greater enthusiasm for our faith in Jesus.
- We would devote our lives to Jesus, not to lesser entities and activities.
- We would be diligent in trying to know what Jesus wants of us – through prayer, scripture (especially the gospels) study, and conversation with others.
- Our lives would have a great sense of purpose and power.
- Our joy would overflow.
- We would know our worth as children of God, never to be separated from the love of God.
- We would love one another and fear no one.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Naming Truth
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
War is social dysfunction, political pathology.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Welcome to our life. You know what it’s like: some pain and struggle, but much more joy, mystery, wonder, and pleasure.
War is social dysfunction, political pathology.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Welcome to our life. You know what it’s like: some pain and struggle, but much more joy, mystery, wonder, and pleasure.
Welcome to our life. You know what it’s like: a chance for adventure, creativity, faith and love.
Welcome to our life. You know what it’s like, so we say “You are welcome to our life.”
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“As art, The Passion of the Christ has no redeeming value.”
[Probably true, but He did not say it.]
D. Blog: What's In A Name?
[Sent To: Managing Editor
A Poetry Anthology, to remain nameless]
It’s My Name, Really
Ron Martin-Adkins, with a hyphenated last name, really.
Not so complicated, I should think, really.
Just the way it’s printed on my submission, no mistake, really.
I typed it just the way it is on my driver’s license, really.
Also shows like that on credit cards, bank cards, social security card,
employee i.d. badge, bank statements and listing in the white pages, really.
Ron Martin-Adkins, really hyphenated, you know?
As in combined, really joined together?
Is it really so confusing when it’s clearly so on the page?
But you remain confused, really need an explanation?
.
Quite simple, really.
An Adkins and a Martin decided to wed, two becoming one, really.
They merged their lives; she did not submerge hers in his, really.
A new family name emerged: he’s a Martin-Adkins, she’s a Martin-Adkins, really.
Both names changed as both lives changed, really.
Diverging now after more than 20 years seems impossible, really.
Would you really change the wording of my poetry?
Then why my name, I really wonder?
Or do you really mean to give the copyright to a person I do not know?
I suppose not, but I can’t agree to your offer until I really know, you know?
Ron Martin-Adkins (really!)
Monday, August 20, 2007
Life Is Good, Yeah!
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Barely noticed, the butterflies and bees help to sustain life. We might take more notice of them if they went to war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Life is good. Still, a small voice in me suggests I should feel guilty for the blessings I enjoy. Mostly, I can ignore the ungrateful lout, the sanctimonious one who thinks everyone should be miserable, punished for their sins. I believe your voice, though, when you say that kind of religion belongs in the trash. Life is good. Thank you.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“No matter how often you wash them, the dirt will never come off your hands, Pilate.”
[No, but does anyone recommend Pilate as a model political official?]
D. Blog: Men Around the House
Semi-retired, employed part time, and working from home, I spend a lot of time around the house. I’m beginning to formulate a pair of lists.
Things Men are Good for Around the House:
- opening tight jar lids
- reaching things in the cabinet over the fridge
- changing furnace filters
- turning off the lights
- changing light bulbs
- hanging pictures where she wants them, then hanging them where she really wants them
- moving furniture, then moving it to where she really wants it (and then, usually, watching her move it where she really, REALLY wants it)
- operating the TV remote
- unloading the dishwasher
- fetching the newspaper
- taking out the trash
- pitching the junk mail, and any other mail that looks like junk
- putting dumb messages on the answering machine
- putting telemarketers in their place
Things Men Should Not Be Expected to do Around the House:
- put the seat down (women can just as easily put it back the way they find it!)
- clean the toilet(s)
- dust
- water the plants (outdoors, perhaps)
- change a diaper (well, one maybe, but we have limits)
- get rid of our old sports gear (yes, we were once young and athletic)
- iron
- watch Desperate Housewives with her (c’mon, get real!)
- (I welcome your contributions to the lists… Make a comment.)
Barely noticed, the butterflies and bees help to sustain life. We might take more notice of them if they went to war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Life is good. Still, a small voice in me suggests I should feel guilty for the blessings I enjoy. Mostly, I can ignore the ungrateful lout, the sanctimonious one who thinks everyone should be miserable, punished for their sins. I believe your voice, though, when you say that kind of religion belongs in the trash. Life is good. Thank you.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“No matter how often you wash them, the dirt will never come off your hands, Pilate.”
[No, but does anyone recommend Pilate as a model political official?]
D. Blog: Men Around the House
Semi-retired, employed part time, and working from home, I spend a lot of time around the house. I’m beginning to formulate a pair of lists.
Things Men are Good for Around the House:
- opening tight jar lids
- reaching things in the cabinet over the fridge
- changing furnace filters
- turning off the lights
- changing light bulbs
- hanging pictures where she wants them, then hanging them where she really wants them
- moving furniture, then moving it to where she really wants it (and then, usually, watching her move it where she really, REALLY wants it)
- operating the TV remote
- unloading the dishwasher
- fetching the newspaper
- taking out the trash
- pitching the junk mail, and any other mail that looks like junk
- putting dumb messages on the answering machine
- putting telemarketers in their place
Things Men Should Not Be Expected to do Around the House:
- put the seat down (women can just as easily put it back the way they find it!)
- clean the toilet(s)
- dust
- water the plants (outdoors, perhaps)
- change a diaper (well, one maybe, but we have limits)
- get rid of our old sports gear (yes, we were once young and athletic)
- iron
- watch Desperate Housewives with her (c’mon, get real!)
- (I welcome your contributions to the lists… Make a comment.)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Being Positive
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Violence begets violence. Love begets love. It’s our choice. As for me and my house, we choose love and life.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The hits just keep coming.
Yesterday was another smash, the day before a best seller.
Today promises to go platinum.
You provide me with abundant life.
You give me untold joy.
You bless.
You make my life rich in the ways that matter.
I hardly know how to express my gratitude.
But I’m trying.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“On second thought, Satan, I’ll take dominion over the nations of the earth. What’s a little bow to you in exchange? I can save the world for democracy.”
D. Blog: Parable
"The Prodigal..."
After a long and tense day at work, a man returned home,
anticipating a pleasant dinner with his family and some invited friends. His young son, meanwhile, could hardly contain his excitement to see the visitors, for the family included his best friend.
When the father entered the house before the guests arrived,
his son screamed, "No, not you! I don't want to eat with you!"
The man soon overcame that rejection, ate dinner anyway, and smiled at the happy interaction between the two young friends.
***
As the heading indicates, this parable is in part a re-working of the story of the man who had two sons, one referred to as the prodigal. One method of teaching with the biblical parables is to have learners paraphrase or rewrite particular favorites from the Bible. What does it say about how God is revealed to us by undertaking such an endeavor? What might this parable say about my understanding of God and our relationship to God? Is it consistent with what you read and hear in the original parable?
Violence begets violence. Love begets love. It’s our choice. As for me and my house, we choose love and life.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The hits just keep coming.
Yesterday was another smash, the day before a best seller.
Today promises to go platinum.
You provide me with abundant life.
You give me untold joy.
You bless.
You make my life rich in the ways that matter.
I hardly know how to express my gratitude.
But I’m trying.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“On second thought, Satan, I’ll take dominion over the nations of the earth. What’s a little bow to you in exchange? I can save the world for democracy.”
[Hmm... Nope, I don't think He said that.]
D. Blog: Parable
"The Prodigal..."
After a long and tense day at work, a man returned home,
anticipating a pleasant dinner with his family and some invited friends. His young son, meanwhile, could hardly contain his excitement to see the visitors, for the family included his best friend.
When the father entered the house before the guests arrived,
his son screamed, "No, not you! I don't want to eat with you!"
The man soon overcame that rejection, ate dinner anyway, and smiled at the happy interaction between the two young friends.
***
As the heading indicates, this parable is in part a re-working of the story of the man who had two sons, one referred to as the prodigal. One method of teaching with the biblical parables is to have learners paraphrase or rewrite particular favorites from the Bible. What does it say about how God is revealed to us by undertaking such an endeavor? What might this parable say about my understanding of God and our relationship to God? Is it consistent with what you read and hear in the original parable?
Saturday, August 18, 2007
What If?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Peace is coming. We can cooperate or die fighting it.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Change is in the works, always.
The old guard fights the change, always.
New approaches will have their day, always.
Something refreshing this way comes, always.
I welcome it with open arms.
Your will be done on Earth.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“But Dad, why can’t I have a Star of David tattoo on my arm?”
D. Blog: What If?
What if Jesus had not healed lepers?
What if Jesus had condemned the woman caught in adultery?
What if Jesus had not offered the Samaritan as a model neighbor?
What if Jesus’ story of the prodigal ended with the father refusing to receive his wayward son?
What if Jesus had not praised the faith of the Roman (Gentile heathen) centurion?
What if Jesus had refused to accept Judas Iscariot as a disciple?
What if Jesus had not re-interpreted familiar scripture texts?
Then conservative/fundamentalist “Christians” would actually be following Him.
Peace is coming. We can cooperate or die fighting it.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Change is in the works, always.
The old guard fights the change, always.
New approaches will have their day, always.
Something refreshing this way comes, always.
I welcome it with open arms.
Your will be done on Earth.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“But Dad, why can’t I have a Star of David tattoo on my arm?”
[Wouldn't it be great?! But, no, He never said it - I'm pretty sure.]
D. Blog: What If?
What if Jesus had not healed lepers?
What if Jesus had condemned the woman caught in adultery?
What if Jesus had not offered the Samaritan as a model neighbor?
What if Jesus’ story of the prodigal ended with the father refusing to receive his wayward son?
What if Jesus had not praised the faith of the Roman (Gentile heathen) centurion?
What if Jesus had refused to accept Judas Iscariot as a disciple?
What if Jesus had not re-interpreted familiar scripture texts?
Then conservative/fundamentalist “Christians” would actually be following Him.
Friday, August 17, 2007
"I'm In Heaven"
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
I found Solomon’s treasure. Peace on Earth is all it said.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I can imagine there is no heaven. Not as we have heard it imagined.
I can imagine there is no heaven. Unless I find it in my experience on Earth.
I can imagine there is no heaven. Until I know your presence.
I can imagine there is no heaven. But there is oneness with you.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Yeah, well my Dad can beat your Dad in anything!”
[Hmmm. Nope, He didn't say it.]
D. Blog: Judgment (Part 7)
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam
(40) If you are a Christian, what does “as we forgive those who trespass against us” say to you?
(39) How important is it that you be with loved ones in heaven?
(38) Who won’t be a loved one in heaven?
(37) Some say heaven has room for only 144,000 souls. What do you think of your odds?
(36) What political figure did you admire for his/her spirituality?
(35) So, what do you think you can take with you?
(34) How does the Goddess fit in your theology?
(33) How did you demonstrate that you had learned it wasn’t all about you?
(32) At what point did you stop trying to get even with those who had wronged you?
(31) What was the most inspired thing you ever did?
I found Solomon’s treasure. Peace on Earth is all it said.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I can imagine there is no heaven. Not as we have heard it imagined.
I can imagine there is no heaven. Unless I find it in my experience on Earth.
I can imagine there is no heaven. Until I know your presence.
I can imagine there is no heaven. But there is oneness with you.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Yeah, well my Dad can beat your Dad in anything!”
[Hmmm. Nope, He didn't say it.]
D. Blog: Judgment (Part 7)
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam
(40) If you are a Christian, what does “as we forgive those who trespass against us” say to you?
(39) How important is it that you be with loved ones in heaven?
(38) Who won’t be a loved one in heaven?
(37) Some say heaven has room for only 144,000 souls. What do you think of your odds?
(36) What political figure did you admire for his/her spirituality?
(35) So, what do you think you can take with you?
(34) How does the Goddess fit in your theology?
(33) How did you demonstrate that you had learned it wasn’t all about you?
(32) At what point did you stop trying to get even with those who had wronged you?
(31) What was the most inspired thing you ever did?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Clear Vision
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Political leaders who do not establish peace are failures.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
If I believed some spit and dirt could restore my vision, I’d jump into line for the cure.
We mostly take seeing for granted, can hardly imagine being blind, being so utterly vulnerable, so largely dependent.
But we are vulnerable and dependent. To think otherwise is to live an illusion, to blind ourselves to the reality: we are totally vulnerable to disease and disaster; we are totally dependent on you and on our neighbors.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“How babies are born? Sure I know. My Mom told me all about my birth.”
[Just imagine...No, He didn't say it.]
Political leaders who do not establish peace are failures.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
If I believed some spit and dirt could restore my vision, I’d jump into line for the cure.
We mostly take seeing for granted, can hardly imagine being blind, being so utterly vulnerable, so largely dependent.
But we are vulnerable and dependent. To think otherwise is to live an illusion, to blind ourselves to the reality: we are totally vulnerable to disease and disaster; we are totally dependent on you and on our neighbors.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“How babies are born? Sure I know. My Mom told me all about my birth.”
[Just imagine...No, He didn't say it.]
D. Blog:
I have gay and lesbian relatives. I love them. They make significant contributions to the family and to the community. They are good friends, good company, good people. It’s my opinion that if there’s any “sin” involved in that minor part of them (and I think it’s arrogant, presumptuous, and biblically out of line to judge them so), it is far less significant than the clear and soul-endangering sins of “good” Christians who engage in excluding, discriminating, judging, and condemning these children of God. I also think such “good” Christians should consider removing the logs from their own eyes – greed, lust, gluttony, envy, pride, warring, self-righteousness, and depriving the poor of a chance at a decent life - instead of focusing their attention so obsessively on homosexuality (tele-tubbies?!).
I think the “good” Christians of the Dallas area congregation that refused to provide a funeral for a gay veteran should be ashamed, should beg forgiveness from the man’s family and promise never to engage in such un-Christian behavior again.
They have stained the memory of Jesus. They seem to think He should have turned lepers away rather than heal them, that the priest and the Levite were right to pass by on the other side of the road rather than to offer comfort and assistance to the man who had been beaten by robbers, and that the Samaritan who did offer such aid did not deserve to be honored by Jesus, especially if he happened to be gay.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Dessert Anyone?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
There’s no time like the present – for peace.
B. Unabashed Christian:
A Psalm
Holy One,
I see your glory wherever I turn my eyes – and in my eyes, too.
I think I see you in everything, for there is glory in all you have created – even in me.
I live in awe of your wonders, for I cannot overlook them
I relish your greatness; I revel in your goodness.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Come on up and see me some time.”
[He didn’t say it. Or perhaps Mae had a word from on high…]
D. Blog: Improper Dessert Food
(for Rina)
Peanut butter does not belong in desserts.
Having been nurtured on them as a child, I like peanut butter in sandwiches. I will still take a break on occasion from a low-cholesterol diet to eat that peanut butter and something sandwich. But whoever came up with the idea of peanut butter in desserts must have had a craving for clogged arteries or been desperate to drive her husband from the house by serving it after the anchovy soup, deep fried okra and spam on garlic bread.
I often receive comments about how young I look for my age. Even after I show my driver’s license, people have a hard time believing I’m 60 years old. Well, it’s true. And I attribute my youthful countenance to the fact that I never eat peanut butter in a dessert. Peanut butter cookies? Yuck! Peanut butter pie? Could I please have an apple instead? Peanut butter ice cream? No, thanks. I'm watching my weight.
No, you cannot fool me. Desserts are sweet. Peanut butter belongs on bread or on an index finger, not in a cake, cookie or pie or pudding or jello (some fool must have tried it by now). I think it’s all a conspiracy by peanut growers to expand their reach into our arteries, to fool our tastebuds into accepting a flavor that does not belong in our desserts. If God intended peanut butter desserts, Eve would have handed some to Adam. Might have been a good idea – perhaps he wouldn’t have been able to swallow it and bring on the world’s misery.
But the worst, the absolute worst, is mixing peanut butter and chocolate. A perfectly fine sandwich food and the best dessert food known to humankind. Why ruin two flavors by putting them together? I just don’t get it. If I want peanut butter, I’ll eat peanut butter. Don’t spoil my chocolate with it. If they are so good together, I reason, why haven’t I heard about peanut butter and chocolate sandwiches?? If you want to spoil the dessert food, why not spoil the lunch food as well?
But that’s okay. Too each her/his own. But if I come to your house, don’t be surprised when I decline your offer of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. I want to keep my youthful appearance for as long as possible.
There’s no time like the present – for peace.
B. Unabashed Christian:
A Psalm
Holy One,
I see your glory wherever I turn my eyes – and in my eyes, too.
I think I see you in everything, for there is glory in all you have created – even in me.
I live in awe of your wonders, for I cannot overlook them
I relish your greatness; I revel in your goodness.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Come on up and see me some time.”
[He didn’t say it. Or perhaps Mae had a word from on high…]
D. Blog: Improper Dessert Food
(for Rina)
Peanut butter does not belong in desserts.
Having been nurtured on them as a child, I like peanut butter in sandwiches. I will still take a break on occasion from a low-cholesterol diet to eat that peanut butter and something sandwich. But whoever came up with the idea of peanut butter in desserts must have had a craving for clogged arteries or been desperate to drive her husband from the house by serving it after the anchovy soup, deep fried okra and spam on garlic bread.
I often receive comments about how young I look for my age. Even after I show my driver’s license, people have a hard time believing I’m 60 years old. Well, it’s true. And I attribute my youthful countenance to the fact that I never eat peanut butter in a dessert. Peanut butter cookies? Yuck! Peanut butter pie? Could I please have an apple instead? Peanut butter ice cream? No, thanks. I'm watching my weight.
No, you cannot fool me. Desserts are sweet. Peanut butter belongs on bread or on an index finger, not in a cake, cookie or pie or pudding or jello (some fool must have tried it by now). I think it’s all a conspiracy by peanut growers to expand their reach into our arteries, to fool our tastebuds into accepting a flavor that does not belong in our desserts. If God intended peanut butter desserts, Eve would have handed some to Adam. Might have been a good idea – perhaps he wouldn’t have been able to swallow it and bring on the world’s misery.
But the worst, the absolute worst, is mixing peanut butter and chocolate. A perfectly fine sandwich food and the best dessert food known to humankind. Why ruin two flavors by putting them together? I just don’t get it. If I want peanut butter, I’ll eat peanut butter. Don’t spoil my chocolate with it. If they are so good together, I reason, why haven’t I heard about peanut butter and chocolate sandwiches?? If you want to spoil the dessert food, why not spoil the lunch food as well?
But that’s okay. Too each her/his own. But if I come to your house, don’t be surprised when I decline your offer of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. I want to keep my youthful appearance for as long as possible.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Who's the Prodigal?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
“Peace on Earth, good will to all.” Not simply a pious human wish, but a heavenly mandate.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
Everything is a miracle.
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
Everybody is a miracle.
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
Every moment displays your glory.
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
All creation shouts your praise.
Well, okay then. Let’s join in the celebration.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Going my way?”
D. Blog: A Poem
In My Defense
(The elder son speaks)
When I stay and you take me for granted,
I can hardly celebrate for the one who left.
When I receive no expression of appreciation,
it is easy to bear resentment.
When I am slighted, I naturally pull away.
When you do not call me by name,
I hardly feel wanted as your son.
Be careful about assigning blame.
“Peace on Earth, good will to all.” Not simply a pious human wish, but a heavenly mandate.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
Everything is a miracle.
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
Everybody is a miracle.
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
Every moment displays your glory.
How could we overlook your presence in the world?
All creation shouts your praise.
Well, okay then. Let’s join in the celebration.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Going my way?”
[Perhaps on the road to Emmaus, but still, not in English.]
D. Blog: A Poem
In My Defense
(The elder son speaks)
When I stay and you take me for granted,
I can hardly celebrate for the one who left.
When I receive no expression of appreciation,
it is easy to bear resentment.
When I am slighted, I naturally pull away.
When you do not call me by name,
I hardly feel wanted as your son.
Be careful about assigning blame.
Monday, August 13, 2007
On Couthness
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
The evidence is indisputable: Jesus taught love, forgiveness and peace. To live otherwise is indisputably not to follow Jesus’ way.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Mountains stretch to reach you.
Birds sing love songs to you.
Trees point to you.
Deer run and jump for joy because of you.
Plants dress in their finest for you.
Too often, we act as if we don’t have a clue.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Judas, you’re fired!”
D. Blog: Who’s Couth?
Couth. Fascinating word, because we have much more understanding of its opposite. Uncouth signifies unsophisticated, uncivilized, poorly mannered, coarse, without culture. Originally it signified strangeness, unfamiliarity.
Do you suppose you have used or heard or read the word “couth” even one-tenth as often as you have “uncouth”? That might be explained by the fact that couth is what the dictionaries call a “back-formation,” meaning that the longer form of a word pair predates what would usually be the basic form. Thus, uncouth was the original word and couth arose later, presumably early in the 20th century according to most etymological sources.
This interests me in part because it suggests we have much more familiarity with uncouth behavior than we do couth behavior, and that we had a word for uncouth behavior long before we recognized couthness. Perhaps because it’s the normal pattern in human development…
The evidence is indisputable: Jesus taught love, forgiveness and peace. To live otherwise is indisputably not to follow Jesus’ way.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Mountains stretch to reach you.
Birds sing love songs to you.
Trees point to you.
Deer run and jump for joy because of you.
Plants dress in their finest for you.
Too often, we act as if we don’t have a clue.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Judas, you’re fired!”
[No. He didn't know the Donald].
D. Blog: Who’s Couth?
Couth. Fascinating word, because we have much more understanding of its opposite. Uncouth signifies unsophisticated, uncivilized, poorly mannered, coarse, without culture. Originally it signified strangeness, unfamiliarity.
Do you suppose you have used or heard or read the word “couth” even one-tenth as often as you have “uncouth”? That might be explained by the fact that couth is what the dictionaries call a “back-formation,” meaning that the longer form of a word pair predates what would usually be the basic form. Thus, uncouth was the original word and couth arose later, presumably early in the 20th century according to most etymological sources.
This interests me in part because it suggests we have much more familiarity with uncouth behavior than we do couth behavior, and that we had a word for uncouth behavior long before we recognized couthness. Perhaps because it’s the normal pattern in human development…
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Invitation - to think
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Peace knocks at my door. I hurry to open for her.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
You came uninvited into my life.
Please stay.
Maybe it was I who was invited to come into your life.
Please let me stay.
Perhaps we have always been part of each other’s lives.
Please let it be so forever.
Amen.
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
D. Blog: A Parable
"Let the children come..."
Once there was a mentally challenged boy whose mother sent him to church programs as often as she could because she could not cope with caring for her son so much of the time. The boy heard and understood enough to ask the minister one day, "Does Jesus live in this church?"
The minister thought about it for a while before replying,
"You'll have to ask some of the people who come here on Sunday
mornings."
How would you answer the boy's question?
Peace knocks at my door. I hurry to open for her.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
You came uninvited into my life.
Please stay.
Maybe it was I who was invited to come into your life.
Please let me stay.
Perhaps we have always been part of each other’s lives.
Please let it be so forever.
Amen.
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
[Didn't say that. He always used perfect grammar.]
D. Blog: A Parable
"Let the children come..."
Once there was a mentally challenged boy whose mother sent him to church programs as often as she could because she could not cope with caring for her son so much of the time. The boy heard and understood enough to ask the minister one day, "Does Jesus live in this church?"
The minister thought about it for a while before replying,
"You'll have to ask some of the people who come here on Sunday
mornings."
How would you answer the boy's question?
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Who's Overgrown?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
War seems to appeal to those who feel a need to prove themselves. Those at peace with themselves are at peace with the world.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
One lived among us as a spiritual giant, a prophet of peace, reconciliation and freedom. Great gains were made.
Somebody killed him.
And then another such prophet appeared, and again great gains were made.
Somebody killed him, too.
Again, a prophetic leader came and great gains were made.
Somebody killed him.
It’s a pattern that discourages your prophets, but they keep coming.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“My way is the high way.”
D. Blog: Overgrown? Says Who?
Use the word “overgrown” in a sentence.
Your sentence probably follows the normal dictionary route, as in “The path to the cabin had long since become overgrown with wild blackberry brambles.”
I beg to differ with such an understanding of the word. Natural vegetation does not “overgrow.” It has no recognition of human restrictions on its growth. To claim it should dishonors the natural environment and shows the typical human disdain for nature. We prefer labor-intensive manicured golf courses over nature’s fields and forests. Very efficient adaptation to our environment… [Not!]
I propose an alternative application of the word, one that reflects our reality much more accurately. Instead of imposing the notion of overgrowth on vegetation, I think we should look in the mirror with it. Humans have an overgrown population. In the US we have an overgrown military budget. We see too many overgrown egos in the limelight, overgrown national pride, overgrown anger on the highways and in our neighborhoods, overgrown hatred among religious traditions. We suffer from overgrown hungers, consumption and waste.
Nature does not overgrow its bounds. We do ours.
War seems to appeal to those who feel a need to prove themselves. Those at peace with themselves are at peace with the world.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
One lived among us as a spiritual giant, a prophet of peace, reconciliation and freedom. Great gains were made.
Somebody killed him.
And then another such prophet appeared, and again great gains were made.
Somebody killed him, too.
Again, a prophetic leader came and great gains were made.
Somebody killed him.
It’s a pattern that discourages your prophets, but they keep coming.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“My way is the high way.”
[He might have, but didn't say it.]
D. Blog: Overgrown? Says Who?
Use the word “overgrown” in a sentence.
Your sentence probably follows the normal dictionary route, as in “The path to the cabin had long since become overgrown with wild blackberry brambles.”
I beg to differ with such an understanding of the word. Natural vegetation does not “overgrow.” It has no recognition of human restrictions on its growth. To claim it should dishonors the natural environment and shows the typical human disdain for nature. We prefer labor-intensive manicured golf courses over nature’s fields and forests. Very efficient adaptation to our environment… [Not!]
I propose an alternative application of the word, one that reflects our reality much more accurately. Instead of imposing the notion of overgrowth on vegetation, I think we should look in the mirror with it. Humans have an overgrown population. In the US we have an overgrown military budget. We see too many overgrown egos in the limelight, overgrown national pride, overgrown anger on the highways and in our neighborhoods, overgrown hatred among religious traditions. We suffer from overgrown hungers, consumption and waste.
Nature does not overgrow its bounds. We do ours.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Judgment, Part 6
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Take a chance on peace. Then take another. And another. As many as it takes.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
"Forward through the ages," the hymn says. I'll ignore the rest of the words. But that part, I think, could be your motto. You move forward, the creation moves forward, time moves forward.
"No turning back," says another hymn. Also another context, but the words speak to our reality. We cannot live in the past. (Perhaps we should emphasize that as a fundamental truth. Why isn't that verse in the Bible?)
Why would we try to live in the past? For you beckon us onward to where you lead us.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I've entered the synagogue talent show as a ventriloquist, since so many people claim to have heard my voice."
[Maybe in a church on Sunday morning... No, He never said that.]
D. Blog: Judgment
Judgment Day's A-Comin'
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 6)
(50) From the Deity’s perspective, what do you think is wrong with the slogan “My country, right or wrong?”
(49) What do you think of the slogan “Make Love, Not War”?
(48) When did you realize that all life on Earth is fundamentally sacred?
(47) In what ways did you sell your spiritual birthright?
(46) What in your life shows you learned that diversity is life’s (and God’s) way?
(45) What belief do you hold that would be considered heretical by your religious tradition?
(44) What invention do you wish had not been developed? Why?
(43) What becomes of “heretics” after death?
(42) What do you think of the notion some people have that God plans to destroy Earth?
(41) What was your favorite earthly possession? How did it contribute to your spiritual health?
Take a chance on peace. Then take another. And another. As many as it takes.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
"Forward through the ages," the hymn says. I'll ignore the rest of the words. But that part, I think, could be your motto. You move forward, the creation moves forward, time moves forward.
"No turning back," says another hymn. Also another context, but the words speak to our reality. We cannot live in the past. (Perhaps we should emphasize that as a fundamental truth. Why isn't that verse in the Bible?)
Why would we try to live in the past? For you beckon us onward to where you lead us.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I've entered the synagogue talent show as a ventriloquist, since so many people claim to have heard my voice."
[Maybe in a church on Sunday morning... No, He never said that.]
D. Blog: Judgment
Judgment Day's A-Comin'
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 6)
(50) From the Deity’s perspective, what do you think is wrong with the slogan “My country, right or wrong?”
(49) What do you think of the slogan “Make Love, Not War”?
(48) When did you realize that all life on Earth is fundamentally sacred?
(47) In what ways did you sell your spiritual birthright?
(46) What in your life shows you learned that diversity is life’s (and God’s) way?
(45) What belief do you hold that would be considered heretical by your religious tradition?
(44) What invention do you wish had not been developed? Why?
(43) What becomes of “heretics” after death?
(42) What do you think of the notion some people have that God plans to destroy Earth?
(41) What was your favorite earthly possession? How did it contribute to your spiritual health?
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Instead of The Fall
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Loss of innocence need not mean a fall into the depravity of war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
You allowed my biological parents to name me. You knew me first and know me most intimately, but they named me. You cared for me in ways they could not, in fact, even cared for me through them. Strange as it sounds, I think you gave me up for adoption to them.
They proved to be good parents, and I love them and appreciate what they did for me. At the same time, I realize that much of my life I spent searching for, finding, and then relating more openly and more freely to you, my spiritual and, in an ultimate sense, my natural parent.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I don't do guilt or shame, because I'm into forgiveness. Interested?"
[Maybe a paraphrase of His response to the woman caught in adultery? Or even His overall message? But He did not say it in English...]
D. Blog: Instead of "The Fall"
I have, perhaps, an unorthodox view of the Eden story. The imposition of the concept of a "fall" (not in the text) and the church's subsequent theory of a fall and redemption plot line in the biblical story do not persuade me.
I see, and find more persuasive, a loss of innocence in the garden. The world no longer looks like paradise, in part because of our own acts, and after our loss of innocence, we cannot return to a perfect place.
Loss of innocence is a natural part of living as human beings. It requires no additional punishment, because it is punishment enough to recognize being placed in a good yet imperfect world.
The good news that Jesus so vividly - and controversially - presented is that God forgives us. Forgiveness according to Jesus comes not because we (or Jesus) offer some ritual sacrifice of atonement for sin, but because forgiveness comes naturally from God, who understands lost innocence as part of what it means to live as God's image in the world.
Loss of innocence need not mean a fall into the depravity of war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
You allowed my biological parents to name me. You knew me first and know me most intimately, but they named me. You cared for me in ways they could not, in fact, even cared for me through them. Strange as it sounds, I think you gave me up for adoption to them.
They proved to be good parents, and I love them and appreciate what they did for me. At the same time, I realize that much of my life I spent searching for, finding, and then relating more openly and more freely to you, my spiritual and, in an ultimate sense, my natural parent.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I don't do guilt or shame, because I'm into forgiveness. Interested?"
[Maybe a paraphrase of His response to the woman caught in adultery? Or even His overall message? But He did not say it in English...]
D. Blog: Instead of "The Fall"
I have, perhaps, an unorthodox view of the Eden story. The imposition of the concept of a "fall" (not in the text) and the church's subsequent theory of a fall and redemption plot line in the biblical story do not persuade me.
I see, and find more persuasive, a loss of innocence in the garden. The world no longer looks like paradise, in part because of our own acts, and after our loss of innocence, we cannot return to a perfect place.
Loss of innocence is a natural part of living as human beings. It requires no additional punishment, because it is punishment enough to recognize being placed in a good yet imperfect world.
The good news that Jesus so vividly - and controversially - presented is that God forgives us. Forgiveness according to Jesus comes not because we (or Jesus) offer some ritual sacrifice of atonement for sin, but because forgiveness comes naturally from God, who understands lost innocence as part of what it means to live as God's image in the world.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
God's Will
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
Some people see enemies. Okay, let's love them.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Waste and decay, greed and lust and violence, suffering and death.
These appear all around and within us.
Some people see them as the primary facts of life.
I see them and know them all too well.
But I also know their opposites:
Beauty and growth, sharing and love and compassion, joy and renewal.
I see these as the more significant facts of life.
For life itself ranks as the primary reality.
And it's all glorious.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I thought the plague of frogs was a leap."
[No, but He did like word-plays.]
D. Blog: God's Will?
I imagine God hates it when, following a natural disaster, some people say something like "It was God's will."
I imagine God hates it when, following the death of a child or young person, a minister says something like "God needed her more than we do."
I imagine God hates it when insurance policies have the disclaimer about "wars or acts of God."
Sure, put the blame on God for life's tragedies. Sure, make God the scapegoat for all the bad or evil in the world. We pick God out of the line-up without looking at other possibilities, just because God brought us into this messy world. We wallow in our suffering so much that we forget all about the joys...
Who's responsible for those, by the way? Never mind, we want blame and retribution. So we "kill" the monster God who causes such pain. God does not exist. We don't believe in God.
How very mature of us. How very becoming of humans made in God's image.
God's reply to Job, as I interpret it, says we should quit groveling in sackcloth and ashes. We should stand up in the dignity of our humanity, welcoming the breadth and depth of life and engaging in it for the miracle it all is. Enough of the blame game, already.
Some people see enemies. Okay, let's love them.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Waste and decay, greed and lust and violence, suffering and death.
These appear all around and within us.
Some people see them as the primary facts of life.
I see them and know them all too well.
But I also know their opposites:
Beauty and growth, sharing and love and compassion, joy and renewal.
I see these as the more significant facts of life.
For life itself ranks as the primary reality.
And it's all glorious.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I thought the plague of frogs was a leap."
[No, but He did like word-plays.]
D. Blog: God's Will?
I imagine God hates it when, following a natural disaster, some people say something like "It was God's will."
I imagine God hates it when, following the death of a child or young person, a minister says something like "God needed her more than we do."
I imagine God hates it when insurance policies have the disclaimer about "wars or acts of God."
Sure, put the blame on God for life's tragedies. Sure, make God the scapegoat for all the bad or evil in the world. We pick God out of the line-up without looking at other possibilities, just because God brought us into this messy world. We wallow in our suffering so much that we forget all about the joys...
Who's responsible for those, by the way? Never mind, we want blame and retribution. So we "kill" the monster God who causes such pain. God does not exist. We don't believe in God.
How very mature of us. How very becoming of humans made in God's image.
God's reply to Job, as I interpret it, says we should quit groveling in sackcloth and ashes. We should stand up in the dignity of our humanity, welcoming the breadth and depth of life and engaging in it for the miracle it all is. Enough of the blame game, already.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Opportunity Knocks
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
When peace comes, none are left behind.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Have we told you lately that we love you?
Here's our opportunity...
Have we thanked you lately - for anything or everything?
Here's another opportunity...
Have we expressed our wonder lately for your creation, including ourselves?
Here's a perfect opportunity...
Have we we recently reached out in love to our neighbors, so like us as your children?
Here's an opportunity to prepare to do so...
Have we told you lately that we love you...?
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"Get your guns, guys, it’s time we clean up this town."
[No. He didn't believe in redemptive violence.]
D. Blog: A Haiku
Birds warn one another
of my presence.
Despite my size,
I'm harmless.
When peace comes, none are left behind.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Have we told you lately that we love you?
Here's our opportunity...
Have we thanked you lately - for anything or everything?
Here's another opportunity...
Have we expressed our wonder lately for your creation, including ourselves?
Here's a perfect opportunity...
Have we we recently reached out in love to our neighbors, so like us as your children?
Here's an opportunity to prepare to do so...
Have we told you lately that we love you...?
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"Get your guns, guys, it’s time we clean up this town."
[No. He didn't believe in redemptive violence.]
D. Blog: A Haiku
Birds warn one another
of my presence.
Despite my size,
I'm harmless.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Under God - Really?
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
I will never take peace for granted, nor will I accept war as normal.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
If you don't exist, why do I care about anything but myself?
If you don't exist, suicide is reasonable for a high percentage of the world's population.
If you don't exist, chaos should prevail.
If you don't exist, war seems inevitable.
If you don't exist, the eat-drink-be-merry party gets my vote.
If you don't exist, I don't care.
I'll just pretend you do.
You rule.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"If people don’t bow down at my loving feet, they’ll spend eternity in hell. Where’s the contradiction in that?"
[It's hard to believe, I know, but He never said that!]
D. Blog: Under God?
“One Nation, Under God”
It sounds good in the pledge, but one has to wonder about it. Did it arise out of a reaction to “godless Communism,” for instance, rather than from any sincere belief in God’s dominion over the USA? Does the US have some monopoly on God as the one nation that acknowledges God’s authority? What about the dozens of other nations whose people hold a sincere belief in and devotion to God? In that regard, the statement seems more than a little arrogant, doesn’t it?
Then, one might wonder about the actual history of the US. How under God has the nation been?
Was it under God when it displaced and decimated the original inhabitants of the land?
Was it under God when it enslaved millions of African people and deprived them of their heritage?
Has it been under God when engaging in its numerous wars, mostly against less powerful opposition?
Was the mostly Christian South of this nation under God when it fought integration and equal rights with murderous violence?
One might also wonder about the current situation of the nation. Do we look for God’s direction in what we do?
Is that why we remain such a violent nation inside and outside our borders?
Is that why we seem to think white might makes right all over the world?
Is that why we resist calls for justice for the poor and oppressed workers all at home and over the world, instead taking advantage of their less powerful condition?
Is that why the current US administration denies the obvious truth of global warming in order to maintain its power advantages in the short term?
Do the people of this nation truly believe God will protect them because we are under God, unlike other nations?
A term exists for this statement in pledge and the similar one on currency: LIP SERVICE. Actions speak louder than words.
I will never take peace for granted, nor will I accept war as normal.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
If you don't exist, why do I care about anything but myself?
If you don't exist, suicide is reasonable for a high percentage of the world's population.
If you don't exist, chaos should prevail.
If you don't exist, war seems inevitable.
If you don't exist, the eat-drink-be-merry party gets my vote.
If you don't exist, I don't care.
I'll just pretend you do.
You rule.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"If people don’t bow down at my loving feet, they’ll spend eternity in hell. Where’s the contradiction in that?"
[It's hard to believe, I know, but He never said that!]
D. Blog: Under God?
“One Nation, Under God”
It sounds good in the pledge, but one has to wonder about it. Did it arise out of a reaction to “godless Communism,” for instance, rather than from any sincere belief in God’s dominion over the USA? Does the US have some monopoly on God as the one nation that acknowledges God’s authority? What about the dozens of other nations whose people hold a sincere belief in and devotion to God? In that regard, the statement seems more than a little arrogant, doesn’t it?
Then, one might wonder about the actual history of the US. How under God has the nation been?
Was it under God when it displaced and decimated the original inhabitants of the land?
Was it under God when it enslaved millions of African people and deprived them of their heritage?
Has it been under God when engaging in its numerous wars, mostly against less powerful opposition?
Was the mostly Christian South of this nation under God when it fought integration and equal rights with murderous violence?
One might also wonder about the current situation of the nation. Do we look for God’s direction in what we do?
Is that why we remain such a violent nation inside and outside our borders?
Is that why we seem to think white might makes right all over the world?
Is that why we resist calls for justice for the poor and oppressed workers all at home and over the world, instead taking advantage of their less powerful condition?
Is that why the current US administration denies the obvious truth of global warming in order to maintain its power advantages in the short term?
Do the people of this nation truly believe God will protect them because we are under God, unlike other nations?
A term exists for this statement in pledge and the similar one on currency: LIP SERVICE. Actions speak louder than words.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Practicing Our Profession
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
One problem if we have peace is that doctors won’t get enough practice.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Your tent has room for all. You do not exclude, but receive us with joy.
Your caravan can take billions of people. You put everyone in their reserved seat.
Your mansion has countless rooms. You save a special space for each of us.
You do not discriminate between races, sexes, religions or nationalities.
You simply say “come on in.”
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Just have a seat in the waiting area. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
[Great Physician at work? I don’t think so.]
D. Blog: A Parable
"Neither hot nor cold..."
Once there was a church where no one would sit in the front pews. Sometimes the preacher asked people to come forward, and some would -- a pew or two.
Sometimes the preacher gave the sermon from the rear of the
sanctuary in order to be close to the people.
One Sunday an old man, visiting for the first time, sat in the
very first pew.
************
How would you end this one?
1. He said he liked to get close to the action.
2. He said he'd ridden a bus when the driver told him to sit in
the back, and he wouldn't do it any more.
3. During the sermon, he shouted "Amen" several times. Other
worshippers found it distracting, but the preacher invited the
man to lunch.
4. After the service, he took the preacher out to lunch.
5. Other?
***********
The ending you select says something about your life experience.
It may involve your experience of the church and what you think the church needs to hear if its life would be more faithful.
One problem if we have peace is that doctors won’t get enough practice.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Your tent has room for all. You do not exclude, but receive us with joy.
Your caravan can take billions of people. You put everyone in their reserved seat.
Your mansion has countless rooms. You save a special space for each of us.
You do not discriminate between races, sexes, religions or nationalities.
You simply say “come on in.”
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Just have a seat in the waiting area. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
[Great Physician at work? I don’t think so.]
D. Blog: A Parable
"Neither hot nor cold..."
Once there was a church where no one would sit in the front pews. Sometimes the preacher asked people to come forward, and some would -- a pew or two.
Sometimes the preacher gave the sermon from the rear of the
sanctuary in order to be close to the people.
One Sunday an old man, visiting for the first time, sat in the
very first pew.
************
How would you end this one?
1. He said he liked to get close to the action.
2. He said he'd ridden a bus when the driver told him to sit in
the back, and he wouldn't do it any more.
3. During the sermon, he shouted "Amen" several times. Other
worshippers found it distracting, but the preacher invited the
man to lunch.
4. After the service, he took the preacher out to lunch.
5. Other?
***********
The ending you select says something about your life experience.
It may involve your experience of the church and what you think the church needs to hear if its life would be more faithful.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
What's Important
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
If they go to war, I'll have something more important to do.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I would count my blessings, but I don't have all day and I am not an accountant. Besides, who could keep track, anyway?
I'll just say thank you - again.
I would list the ways your love has shaped my life, but I'd surely overlook several thousand of them.
I'll just try to remember to say I love you - again.
I would recall the times you have filled me with joy and hope, but my memory isn't that great and the present joys and hopes seem much more vivid.
I'll just bask in the warmth of your glory in my life.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I prefer it when the traffic moves on the left."
[He would say it, of course, but He didn't.]
D. Blog: Church as Rest Stop
If they go to war, I'll have something more important to do.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
I would count my blessings, but I don't have all day and I am not an accountant. Besides, who could keep track, anyway?
I'll just say thank you - again.
I would list the ways your love has shaped my life, but I'd surely overlook several thousand of them.
I'll just try to remember to say I love you - again.
I would recall the times you have filled me with joy and hope, but my memory isn't that great and the present joys and hopes seem much more vivid.
I'll just bask in the warmth of your glory in my life.
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
"I prefer it when the traffic moves on the left."
[He would say it, of course, but He didn't.]
D. Blog: Church as Rest Stop
Rest Stop
Perhaps the rest stop is also a welcome center. Then we find:
Friendly greeters. Church can offer those.
Openness to all. Church can offer that.
Help for finding our way. Church can offer that.
Guides to the attractions on the way. Church can offer that.
Maybe if churches followed the rest stop model instead of the religious correctness model, people would find more satisfaction in them.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Judgment, Part 5
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
To delay peace means to choose death. I choose life.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
A simple prayer: thank you for freeing me from oppressive religion. Now, that is salvation worth celebrating!
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“I want you for a sunbeam.”
[No. He didn’t do trivial.]
D. Blog:
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 5)
(60) Of what one act of yours are you most ashamed? Why? Have you been forgiven? By yourself?
(59) When did you not follow the crowd?
(58) What’s your justification for buying anything other than a hybrid vehicle?
(57) What do you think of using the term “act of God” to describe natural disasters?
(56) What part(s) of your life would you not include as part of God’s grace?
(55) What non-human natural process fascinated you most on Earth?
(54) What did you admire about other animals?
(53) How often did you communicate with plants or trees?
(52) How do you imagine you might be different in eternity?
(51) How many angels can fit on the head of a thumbtack? [Jubilee Question]
To delay peace means to choose death. I choose life.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
A simple prayer: thank you for freeing me from oppressive religion. Now, that is salvation worth celebrating!
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“I want you for a sunbeam.”
[No. He didn’t do trivial.]
D. Blog:
Judgment Day’s A Comin’
100 Prep Questions for the Final Exam (Part 5)
(60) Of what one act of yours are you most ashamed? Why? Have you been forgiven? By yourself?
(59) When did you not follow the crowd?
(58) What’s your justification for buying anything other than a hybrid vehicle?
(57) What do you think of using the term “act of God” to describe natural disasters?
(56) What part(s) of your life would you not include as part of God’s grace?
(55) What non-human natural process fascinated you most on Earth?
(54) What did you admire about other animals?
(53) How often did you communicate with plants or trees?
(52) How do you imagine you might be different in eternity?
(51) How many angels can fit on the head of a thumbtack? [Jubilee Question]
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Positive Force
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
The people always want peace. God always wants peace. Must be the devil that tempts the powerful and those hungry for power to deny the will of the people and of God and go to war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The blessings keep coming.
Sometimes it takes some effort to dispel the thought that bad fortune could appear on he horizon. With health issues as I age, that prospect is real enough, as is the possibility that some of the “news” terrorism could strike me and mine, or that economic or climate disaster could befall us all.
But I choose to relish the goodness you send to me. Life is good!
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Lepers are one thing, but I would never put my hands on a person with AIDS.”
[What kind of Jesus would that be? No way He said that.]
D. Blog: An American Hero
Frederick Law Olmsted:
American Hero
Olmsted merits my current award as American Hero of the Year. I had heard brief mention of his name connected with Central Park in New York City and with the Biltmore Estate. Then my wife thought I should know more about him, so she gave me a biography. Well, I was blown away by this amazing man and the incredible life he led.
A few people know he laid out the grounds for the Biltmore Estate. More than that, though, he advised young George Vanderbilt to purchase as much Western North Carolina land as he could, not for a mere park, as George had planned, but for a vast forestry project – this when forest management was in its infancy.
By then, Olmsted was an old man. After all, he was a true late-bloomer, having turned to landscape architecture/design when he was in his 40s. By then, having received only childhood tutoring, he had worked as a seaman, a farmer, a traveling correspondent for what would become the New York Times, a magazine publisher (one of the founders of The Nation), and an expert on the latest agricultural methods aimed at what we now call sustainability.
His traveler’s account of life in the pre-civil war South, later compiled into a still-in-print single volume King Cotton, ranks as the foremost and most objective description we have of that era, so said the renowned historian Arthur Schlesinger.
In the midst of his beginning landscape career, Olmsted agreed to organize and oversee the Union’s agency responsible for medical care of its soldiers. Later, he took another break, of sorts, to manage the a vast mining/ranching/timber estate in California. While there, he advised San Francisco officials about placement of their major park (now Golden Gate Park), as well as proposing the road system, still in place, for the Yosemite Park.
He consulted with dozens of large cities and oversaw development of their major park systems. He also designed the campus layouts for numerous colleges, universities, hospitals and other large institutions.
Olmsted held the firm view that city dwellers, particularly the working classes, must have access to parks in order to maintain stability and peace in their lives. Although he had learned a lot from touring private European gardens and parks, this open access represented a uniquely American perspective at the time.
Americans owe a lot to Olmsted for his contributions to our national life. When I travel in the Pisgah National Forest or drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, I think with gratitude on this amazing man of the 19th century, whose legacy lives on quietly in the 21st century, enriching our lives. In my mind, he belongs with Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln and the Roosevelts.
For such a late-bloomer, Frederick, you gave us a great deal. Thank you.
The people always want peace. God always wants peace. Must be the devil that tempts the powerful and those hungry for power to deny the will of the people and of God and go to war.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
The blessings keep coming.
Sometimes it takes some effort to dispel the thought that bad fortune could appear on he horizon. With health issues as I age, that prospect is real enough, as is the possibility that some of the “news” terrorism could strike me and mine, or that economic or climate disaster could befall us all.
But I choose to relish the goodness you send to me. Life is good!
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Lepers are one thing, but I would never put my hands on a person with AIDS.”
[What kind of Jesus would that be? No way He said that.]
D. Blog: An American Hero
Frederick Law Olmsted:
American Hero
Olmsted merits my current award as American Hero of the Year. I had heard brief mention of his name connected with Central Park in New York City and with the Biltmore Estate. Then my wife thought I should know more about him, so she gave me a biography. Well, I was blown away by this amazing man and the incredible life he led.
A few people know he laid out the grounds for the Biltmore Estate. More than that, though, he advised young George Vanderbilt to purchase as much Western North Carolina land as he could, not for a mere park, as George had planned, but for a vast forestry project – this when forest management was in its infancy.
By then, Olmsted was an old man. After all, he was a true late-bloomer, having turned to landscape architecture/design when he was in his 40s. By then, having received only childhood tutoring, he had worked as a seaman, a farmer, a traveling correspondent for what would become the New York Times, a magazine publisher (one of the founders of The Nation), and an expert on the latest agricultural methods aimed at what we now call sustainability.
His traveler’s account of life in the pre-civil war South, later compiled into a still-in-print single volume King Cotton, ranks as the foremost and most objective description we have of that era, so said the renowned historian Arthur Schlesinger.
In the midst of his beginning landscape career, Olmsted agreed to organize and oversee the Union’s agency responsible for medical care of its soldiers. Later, he took another break, of sorts, to manage the a vast mining/ranching/timber estate in California. While there, he advised San Francisco officials about placement of their major park (now Golden Gate Park), as well as proposing the road system, still in place, for the Yosemite Park.
He consulted with dozens of large cities and oversaw development of their major park systems. He also designed the campus layouts for numerous colleges, universities, hospitals and other large institutions.
Olmsted held the firm view that city dwellers, particularly the working classes, must have access to parks in order to maintain stability and peace in their lives. Although he had learned a lot from touring private European gardens and parks, this open access represented a uniquely American perspective at the time.
Americans owe a lot to Olmsted for his contributions to our national life. When I travel in the Pisgah National Forest or drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, I think with gratitude on this amazing man of the 19th century, whose legacy lives on quietly in the 21st century, enriching our lives. In my mind, he belongs with Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln and the Roosevelts.
For such a late-bloomer, Frederick, you gave us a great deal. Thank you.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
God's Dominion
A. Unabashed Pacifist:
It seems to me that a pacifist has no reason to be defensive.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Humble people in an arrogant, proud to be proud, obnoxious and warring nation. Christians find it embarrassing, discouraging, frightening, painful, and even more humbling.
God help us…
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Blessed are those who wage war and call it peacemaking, for they shall be full of it.”
It seems to me that a pacifist has no reason to be defensive.
B. Unabashed Christian:
Holy One,
Humble people in an arrogant, proud to be proud, obnoxious and warring nation. Christians find it embarrassing, discouraging, frightening, painful, and even more humbling.
God help us…
Amen
C. Unquoting Jesus:
“Blessed are those who wage war and call it peacemaking, for they shall be full of it.”
[No. He did not seem to do sarcasm.]
D. Blog: God’s Dominion
Waiting for it or Seeking it above all else
Too many Christians passively wait for God’s dominion to descend amid a terrifying scene of human death and destruction. In doing so, they once again disregard the clear saying of Jesus about not knowing what the future holds, in favor of an interpretation that grossly distorts the meaning and importance of Daniel and Revelation and the other biblical text from which they construct their theories, in addition to making a mockery of the teaching that God loves the world.
While they wait for that imaginary Armageddon event, they willingly submit to the economic and political dominions of this world. But Jesus said “Seek first the dominion ofGod.” Seek it. Look for it. Go for it. Live according to its standards. Give your primary allegiance to it, not to those lesser expressions of domination and willfulness and blatant disregard for God’s interest in justice, compassion and peace.
Jesus’ entire ministry was devoted to making God’s dominion more available on Earth. His healing and teaching were challenges and invitations to His hearers and observers to enter the realm of God’s reign, made available in and through His presence in the world.
Those of us who follow Jesus, as His post-resurrection body in the world, should be giving ourselves to the same sort of concerns that He addressed. That means the dominion of God coming into view through His church in the world.
I say to those who wait for destruction: be careful what you wish for. I urge those who wait for the dominion of God: act now on what you know of that dominion. Seek, like Jesus, to make its presence real in the world. I say to those who merely wait for God’s dominion: if we love God, then surely part of what that means is that we love what God loves – the world; it means we seek to bring that dominion into view on Earth as it is in heaven.
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