Today: First day of the Rest of My Life?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

In peace there are no losers.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Beautiful day.
Beautiful place.
Beautiful people.
Beautiful caring.
Beautiful experience.
Beautiful family.
Beautiful home.
Beautiful life.
Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Awesome healing, right guys? Gimme 5!”

[I don’t know whether He shared in the awe of “miracles,” but I know He never said this.]

D. Blog: The Rest of My Life

The saying goes that “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” On first impression, that sounds like an encouragement to make the most of today, but then I wonder…

“The rest” seems to suggest a division between past and future, a division that is not that clear-cut as I experience time. Past and future impinge and influence my present. My past counts for more than stale bread or moldy chopped liver.

“The rest” often implies what is left over after the best has been “consumed,” as in the song lyric, "Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine..." So, was yesterday the last day of the best of my life? I don’t think so.

Thus, while the adage might invite us to live fully, to begin anew if necessary, I prefer a different way of stating the reminder, something like “Today only comes once” or “Don’t miss today, it’s all you have for now” or “The future begins today” or even “Eternity can’t exist without today.”

Maybe Not So Free

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

At the end of the day, all that matters is having found peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Like showers from an April sky, your goodness falls on me.
Like warmth on an August day, your love surrounds me.
Like the wind blowing November leaves, your spirit guides me in unexpected but perfect ways.
Like the light of a January afternoon, your hope brightens my way.
I live in and because of your tender care.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“When I became a Christian, my life changed completely.”

[So did the world. But despite so many people making this declaration, He never said it.]

D. Blog: Going, Going…

Loss of freedoms means loss of peace.
Loss of peace means loss of freedoms.
Truth is said to be the first casualty in war.
Freedom is a close second. Just look around us.

Bumpers Speak Truth to Power

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

War cannot bring happiness, love or peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Your loving kindness toward us never ends.
Nor does our selfishness.
Job’s legendary patience was nothing compared to yours.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“When you enter my church, leave your questions at the door.”

[No, fortunately for many of us, He never said this.]

D. Blog: Truth on Bumpers

- Give Bush an inch and he thinks he’s a ruler

- Terrorist: what the big army calls the little army

- Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities – Voltaire

- Secrecy is the freedom tyrants dream of – Bill Moyers

Pandemonium Located

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The best moment in any competition comes when the winner congratulates the loser for a good contest.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I think of your presence in me as more than a mere spark (the Quaker/Friend adage), more like a fire. At those times when it has seemed like a spark, a breath of fresh air revived it to burn warm and bright, occasionally even to roar.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Oops! My bad.”

[When He withered the fig tree? Appropriate perhaps, but He never said it.]

D. Blog: Pandemonium [from www.etymonline.com]

1667, Pandæmonium, in "Paradise Lost" the name of the palace built in the middle of Hell, "the high capital of Satan and all his peers," coined by John Milton (1608-74) from Gk. pan- "all" + L.L. dæmonium "evil spirit," from Gk. daimonion "inferior divine power," from daimon "lesser god". Transferred sense "place of uproar" is from 1779; that of "wild, lawless confusion" is from 1865.

[located in DC?]

Victory At Last - Sort Of

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace never met an enemy, just yet to be converted friends.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

How can I live without you?
I could try, I suppose. I could live without any particular images of you. But that would not make you disappear.
I might avoid connecting to any religion or any spiritual group or read any religious literature. But you would still be active in my life.
I could deny your existence, violate your moral and natural “laws” or trample on the rights of others, even destroy much of life on Earth. But even that would not make you go away or erase my need for you.
I cannot live without you, even if I try.
Your mothering love does not give up on me. You will always offer the possibility of abundant life, even if I convince myself that I live on my own.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Put a little love in your heart.”

[He never said it, or sang it. And He never expected a “little” love.]

D. Blog: Terrorism on the High Seas

1912 – TITANIC SINKS!
1,500 die. Administration officials say terrorists directed iceberg into path of luxury liner

2008 – VICTORY ON TERROR FRONT! Administration declares terrorists can no longer direct icebergs against wealthy coalition civilians

Truly a Beautiful Bride

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I am a follower of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
I am, therefore, a conscientious objector to war.
I refuse to be frightened into war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Did I hear right? You will know. Did Jesus really tell Judas, “Money can’t buy you happiness or love. Those are free from me”?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Overnight this box of chocolates to my Mom for her birthday. The Virgin Mary, Nazareth is all the address you need.”

[I’m sure He was considerate, but He never said this, I’m certain – for many reasons.]

D. Blog: Anti-Bridezilla

The young woman is dear to me. I admire her in part because she does not aspire to princess-hood, but because she has honest personhood. She has experience, humor, and a depth and breadth of spirit that leads her to serve other people. The wedding is a public celebration of commitment, to be sure, but she, unlike so many brides, seeks to eliminate unnecessary trappings of luxury, mock-royalty and pseudo-celebrity. The wedding is not a show, but the act of a real woman accepting a life mate. She’s a beautiful bride.

What Did Jesus Say about ...?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace agreements reached in desperation have little chance of lasting. Reached in hope, they will probably endure.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Protect us from our fears and failings and flaws.
Overcome our lack of wisdom, humility and understanding.
Lead us from greed to compassion, from violence to justice.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“The only way to save the Gentiles is by destroying them.”

[Ludicrous, right? He never said it, but maybe Lucifer did.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

Winning isn’t ev’rything,
Nor the only thing.
Loving is the goal.

Glory -- and Accounting for Taste

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Every time I feel the Spirit, I know peace. Violence is dis-spiriting.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Earth is full of your glory.
We take note.
Earth is full of your glory.
We will not pollute.
Earth is full of your glory.
We will not desecrate.
Earth is full of your glory.
We stand in awe.
Earth is full of your glory.
We will not abuse.
Earth is full of your glory.
We rejoice and give thanks.
Earth is full of your glory.
We will practice stewardship, not profiteering.
Earth is full of your glory.
There is none other like you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Don’t worry, be happy.”

[You thought Bob Marley originated that? Bob borrowed from Jesus’ sermon, but no, it isn’t a direct quotation from Him.]

D. Blog: Taste

There’s no accounting for taste, they say. I’ll agree.

Some people enjoy motorized “sports.” (I don’t think we’ll be watching them as Olympic events.) Some people want stone (or cement) countertops in their houses. (Expensive and you still have to take care of them.) Some people want to wear the “latest” in clothes. (Probably something that went out of style 50 years ago and returned on the whim of a fashionable fashion designer.)
Some people like their Jesus on a cross. (I don’t think God left Him hanging there...)

Un-Christian Vocabulary

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

How can our prayers for peace be heard above what we pay for war?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Have I told you lately that I love you?
That I adore the universe you make possible?
That I can’t thank you enough for Earth and the diversity of life?
That I think my life is wonderful?
That my wife and family and friends with whom I share life could not be better?
That the sense of your love and care just overwhelms my being?
It’s all true.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Seen one temple, you’ve seen them all.”

[It might be true, but He didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: “Exclusive” – a despicable word

I agree with Paul, who wrote that the diversity – ethnic, sexual, religious background, economic, educational, age – in the early church was proof of the Spirit of God at work in the Christian movement. I feel that way when I am part of a church where racial diversity and openly affirmed homosexual members are evident.

Likewise, I agree with Carl Sandburg, who in a television interview with Edward R. Murrow said his least-liked word in the English language is “exclusive.” No church can truly represent Christ if it excludes whole classes or groups or types of people who seek communion with God and with other seekers. It is not the spirit of the Divine that causes us to exclude someone. Such a practice, I think, is worse than what occurred on the temple grounds when Jesus overthrew the tables of vendors and moneychangers who took financial advantage of pilgrims.

Peace Begins Within

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace without equality is an abuse of language.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

This amazing gift we call life – so fragile, so complex, so miraculous – how can we take it so for granted? When I die, I hope to have relished it, treasured it, savored it for its richness and beauty. Despite the hardships and suffering that come with it, life’s spectacle and the joy within it overwhelm me with divine awe. I bow in wonder before the glory and majesty of this abiding mystery you make possible. I clothe myself in thanks each day for the grace of being.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“So, anyway, there are these 12 virgins waiting for somebody to pick them up… No, wait guys. It’s a parable. I don’t mean for you 12 to go running off to find them.”

[For some people it is difficult to tell when he spoke literally and when in parable, but He never said this.]

D. Blog: Bumper Punditry

- If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?

- We’re in big trouble when our bombs are smarter than our president.

- Stop repeat offenders. Don’t re-elect them.

- Regime change starts at home.

How Embarrassing

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

God is on my side, for in Jesus God has issued a Declaration of Peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

If you are holy, what does that make me? As your child, I carry your DNA, so to speak, including the holiness trait. If you have adopted me, then you recognize my holy potential or accept me as part of the holy family. If I recognize and claim my lineage and my family, I allow holiness into my life, express it, embody it in my being. Anything else seems unworthy of who you are in my life.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Let’s party ‘til the sheep come home.”

[It might have been more like “Can’t party until the sheep come home” but He never said either.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week -- Blooper

[from www.word-detective.com]

It appears that the sense of “blooper” meaning “mistake,” especially a public and embarrassing faux pas, has an origin separate from that of the baseball kind of “blooper.” There seem to be two possible sources for the “mistake” sense. In the early days of radio, a poorly shielded receiver could generate a signal that would interfere with other receivers nearby, causing the other sets to emit a howling or “bloop” sound. Such sets came to be known as “bloopers,” and it is possible that the “mistake” sense came from this sudden, unpleasant and unwanted radio noise. But during the same period, sound engineers splicing film soundtracks invented a way of covering the splices, called a “blooping patch,” that prevented the film from making unwanted noises when the splice passed through the projector. Since an error in recording would call for such a splice, it is possible that “blooper” in the “error” sense comes from this process.

The baseball sort of “blooper,” a ball hit high but weakly so that it just clears the infield and hits the ground short of the outfield, has a more certain origin. The term is echoic, imitative of the soft “bloop” sound of the bat striking the ball (as opposed to the sharp crack of a more powerful hit). “Blooper” can also mean a pitch lobbed high so as to drop through the strike zone.

[I can’t help remarking that W owned a baseball team, and that he has made a lot of unwanted sounds when trying to speak into a microphone…]

Know Your Limits

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Ev’ry time I feel the spirit movi9ng in my soul, I must be at peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The superfluous.
The extravagant.
The over-the-top diversity.
The extremities of size.
The cosmic scope.
The outlandish.

You can afford them.
You certainly have time for them.
You know no boundaries.

I, on the other hand, have limits.
I can live with that.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“This new math has me baffled. Matthew, can you explain the decimal system to me?”

[No. Matthew couldn’t, and He never said it.]

D. Blog: Good Bones

We got carryout yesterday from a place in our town called 12 Bones. They do barbecue, according to some judges, better than anybody else in the country. Try the ribs with their chipotle-blueberry sauce some time. I won’t ever say “to die for,” but people do rave about them.

Good bones make a world of difference. They can make us sturdy enough to withstand life’s physical stresses and accidents and natural events. They help make life enjoyable and fulfilling. They can make up for the inevitable shortcomings in my body, in my house, in my community, in my family, in my nation, in my religion. But I need to take care of them. Sauce improves the flavor.

On Tour

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Put on some clothes, Mr. President.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

How do you think the human enterprise is going?

From the “news,” it sounds quite shaky. Wars and rumors of wars, as usual. Poverty and hunger, as ever. Illness and disaster, naturally. Fear and greed and violence, as always.

Still, I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Thank you for giving me the chance to experience it.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I regret that I have but one life to give for humanity.”

[No, He didn’t say it, not even as the 8th word from the cross.]

D. Blog: Tour Guide

We took one of the guided tours around our small city yesterday. I thought I already knew a lot about it, so I was a bit surprised how much more I learned about it by listening to our guide. There were a couple of points of fact I might have questioned, but I did not have an issue with the guide. She obviously knew more about the subjects, had more intimate acquaintance with the city.

Seems like this makes for a decent analogy for my spiritual life. The tour guide wears a name on his badge: Jesus. I learn a lot more by listening to Him than by relying on my experience alone or questioning too much what He tells me about living as a responsible child of God in this world. He knows a lot more about it than I do.

Say What?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Make peace part of the daily news report. We might be surprised at the response.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

We deserve neither blessing nor trouble. Both happen. I pray for humility in the former and patience in the latter. When I see others’ circumstances, I pray for generosity in those who know the former and for advocates or those who know the latter.

Let none doubt your graciousness in giving life. Let none presume to judge your wisdom in creating life, nor deny that you desire the best for us as we make choices in the tapestry that contains all life, visible and invisible.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Rules were made to be broken.“

[No, not quite what He said with those “you have heard, but I say” sayings.]


D. Blog: A Haiku

Bless my soul,
Read prayer or exclamation,
Either way, worth saying.

No Deal??

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

My peace does not depend on your war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Give us the will and the courage (i.e., spiritual power) to do what is required: do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with you.

Give us, too, the wisdom to overcome the temptations to let fear, apathy and cynicism dampen the fires of compassion. Let hope guide our steps as we seek to honor you and your dominion coming on Earth as it is in heaven.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“No deal, Satan.”

[Not in those words, at least as recorded by those who weren’t there at the time.]

D. Blog: Father’s Day

I don’t know how the day could have been better. The family together for worship with our faith community, a fine meal in one of my favorite restaurants (Thai-Laotian), strolling through the studios in our River Arts District and chatting with various artists about their work, ice cream at our friends’ newly opened shop, some gifts of clothing to compensate for my lousy fashion sense and stinginess when it comes to buying clothes, topped off by an outing on the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the views as dusk approached, walking in the woods, and playing with my camera. And then, not that I needed it to improve an already perfect day, a Lakers victory.

PS: Thought for the day: Why do we say under par is good in golf, not so good in other situations?

Fallen Into What?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Politicians who appeal to our fears rather than to our hopes do not serve the public interest.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You openly affirm creation’s goodness.
You openly affirm your love for all.
You openly affirm justice as a high priority.
You openly affirm peace as a divine possibility.
You openly affirm the poor and the oppressed.
You openly affirm equality as a mark of your people.
You openly affirm forgiveness and acceptance when we turn to you.
You openly affirm all of your children. Who are we to reject or deny?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You know I don’t like to get dirty, Dad. I’m going into the banking racket. You know, savings accounts, forgiving debts, that kind of thing.”

[There’s dirt and there’s banking, saving and forgiving, but there’s no way He said this.]

D. Blog: Fallen, But into What?

One of my favorite little-known singing groups does a subtle song about “The Fall” and its consequences. My favorite line says “We have fallen into joy, into the place where we belong.”

After we notice even our own straying from what is right, what else do we notice? We notice what is good. We notice we do not have to choose the wrong. We notice that we can experience joy, love, hope, peace despite evil in the world. Our fallen-ness does not mean The End, just the end of our absolute innocence and inability to distinguish good from evil.

We fall out of the sheltered, isolated, gated, unnatural garden into a wide world of possibilities, into the place where we belong, the place where we can grow and mature into responsible children of the divine.

I Listen to Cars

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“War sucks!” – Pedro, age 11

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Every time we awaken from sleep, we have a resurrection. You built it into our daily lives. We experience rebirth every day when we come into the light.

Then the question is: What will we do with this new chance to live? This, it seems to me, matters a great deal more than what happens after we physically die. I have no control over that. I do have some control over what I do today.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

[It would make for good modeling behavior, I suppose, but He never said it.]

D. Blog: When Cars Talk

- Religions are just cults with more members.

- If going to church makes you a Christian, does going to the garage make you a car?

- I’m straight but not narrow.

- If conservatives are so patriotic, why do they keep sending our jobs overseas?

Tuckered Out??

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

My pastor is a peace person, as she should be.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

In the fullness of time, time emerged.
In the fullness of time, we emerged.
In the fullness of time, you merged with time.
In the fullness of time, we recognized you.
In the fullness of time, we come to you.
In the fullness of time, it is good.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’d better use a lifeline, Regis.”

[From the cross, no doubt. Not!]

D. Blog: “Tuckered Out”

Meaning: Exhausted.

Origin:
It will come as no surprise that 'tuckered out' is an American phrase. No 'B-feature' western from the 1930s and 1940s was complete without Gabby Hayes being 'plumb tuckered out'.

'Plumb' is just an intensifier. 'Tuckered out' is rarely seen alone. People are 'plumb', 'clear', 'well-nigh' or, as in the earliest example that I've found, 'prodigiously', 'tuckered out'. That example is from the Wisconsin Enquirer, April 1839:
"I reckoned to have got to the tavern by sundown, but I haven't - as I'm prodigiously tuckered out."

'Plumb tuckered out' is somewhat later and the first example I have is from the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, February 1889:
"They'll get plumb tuckered out waitin."

The actual derivation of this phrase is quite prosaic. 'Tucker' is a colloquial New England word, coined in the early 19th century, meaning 'to tire' or 'to become weary'. 'Tuckered out' is just a straightforward use of that.

[from Gary Martin at www.phrases.org.uk]

How Secure Are We?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When peace strikes, the damage to the military-industrial complex will be devastating.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

If I haven’t told you lately, I love you.
If you ever need a reference, call on me.
If you want me to, I’d be happy to do it again.
If you pick a time and place, I’ll meet you no matter what.
If I die trying, I’ll come to you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m a salvation army of one.”

[Not how the gospels reported it, so no, He didn’t say this…]

D. Blog: Insecurity Writ Large

When we occasionally hear of people who turn their homes into armed fortresses with locks, gates, barbed wire fences, alarms, guns, even guards, we wonder about their psychological makeup. We suspect some sort of psychosis, some over-the-top paranoia. How can they enjoy life with such a sense of insecurity? They cannot have any friends, can they? The neighbors certainly think these folks are weird and avoid them whenever possible.
Imagine what the rest of the world community thinks of the US. And now our government wants additional “security” by putting weapons of mass destruction into space. Can you say “pathology,” boys and girls?

Overgrown? Who Says?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The saying that pride goes before a fall applies to nations, too.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I know the bad, the terrifying evil, the sin and shame, the loss and grief, the deceit and hypocrisy, the greed and lust for power, the petty rivalries and revenge, the hatred, genocide and war. And more. I know them.

Still, you love us. And thus there is goodness and kindness, noble sacrifice, laughter and beauty. On balance, these wash over the others, cleansing if not drowning them. Life is worthy of us and of you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“There but for fortune go you or I.”

[What He didn’t say when watching the rich man giving his offering at the temple.]

D. Blog: Overgrown

We have a section of our little property that has been left to grow as it will. Some would say it is “overgrown.” I think that term insults Mother Nature, belittles the life force and questions the Creator’s wisdom.

Other things do strike me as overgrown, however. The US military budget, The human population. Too many egos. Our consumption and waste of resources. Salaries of celebrities and CEOs.

I see nothing wrong with natural vegetation that does not interfere with small scale farming and gardening. However, I do see something wrong with trying to turn natural landscapes into the artificiality of golf courses and their mini-replicas around our houses.

“Overgrown” applies to aspects of human life, not to nature’s life.

Yes, I'll Have Dessert

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The self-centered never know peace, for they are too occupied with guarding the idols they have made of themselves.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You fill my mind with ideas.
You fill my senses to the point of bursting with wonder.
You fill my heart with love and delight.
You fill my spirit with dreams and hope.
You fill my soul with your presence.
Thank you for the feast. Yes, I think I would like seconds.
I should still have room for dessert.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Yes, Peter, I am pretty obsessive about cleanliness. I hear that Governor Pilate is, too.”

[No, not what He said when He washed Peter’s feet.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

The bird throws its voice,
Some say as warning.
I say, hymn of grateful praise.

Who's Calling You?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace marchers follow the different drummers.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Joblessness sucks.
Underemployment sucks.
Inadequate income sucks.
Homelessness sucks.
Lack of health care sucks.
Indentured servitude sucks.
Quiet desperation sucks.
Politicians…

You are our only hope.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Don’t call me; I’ll call you.”

[Some preachers got a call from telemarketers, not from Him. But He never said this.]

D. Blog: Why I’m Not a Hindu

I would not make a very good 60+-year-old Hindu. Yes, I interact with God often, multiple times each day. My problem with being an elderly Hindu is that I also have sexual thoughts and reactions, probably daily, and some days multiple times, more even than I interact with God.

Thankfully, I’m not a Hindu. I’m a Christian who views sexuality as one of the ways God blesses our existence on Earth, indeed, one of the ways we are in touch with divinity.

Wonder

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Aunt Eirene wants YOU!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

We leave the sanctuary, but whither shall we go from your presence?
We enter the world of commerce and work, but whither shall we go from your presence?
We enter the world called secular and profane, but whither shall we go from your presence?
We enter the world of deceit and delusion, but whither shall we go from your presence?
We enter the world of technology and science, but whither shall we go from your presence?
We enter the world of violence and sound bites, but whither shall we go from your presence?
We enter the world you made and inhabit, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Let me introduce my better half.”

[No? No, He never said it.]

D. Blog: Wonder

Sometimes, imagine, words fail me. But I’ll try.

I see the morning sunlight on tree leaves that, in turn, case shadow designs on the ground. Here and there, a splash of flower color pulls at my eyes: look at me! A squirrel scurries across the deck, sure that a morsel of food lies waiting to be found. Chickadees flash above him to the feeder, where they know their favorite seeds wait for them.

I have already felt the rising warmth of this day when I went out early to do my quota of yard work, then gladly retreated to the indoor coolness. A short distance from our house, the sound of a mower informs me that a neighbor also decided to beat the day’s heat and take care of the lawn earlier than usual.

Here in the living room, I relish the sight of our collection of mementos and treasures that adorn our space. A dose of sadness impinges as I think of our 30-year-old neighbor, Heather, who sat here just a couple of months ago. She died earlier this week. She married Jim a couple of years ago, after having been in remission from Hodgkins lymphoma. It returned after she became pregnant with Kylie, born five months ago. Again, words fail us, no matter how much it matters that we express our sadness and concern, no matter how much acquaintance we have with death...

Today I will attempt to deal with my own new challenges, but I fear not. The overall picture, one that speaks millions of words, even in the image of Heather’s thumbs up signal as she lay dying, says Life is wonderful!

Ready for Change?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Don’t be late for the peace train.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I find comfort in nature’s dominant colors: green of plants and trees, brown of earth and tree trunks and dead leaves, blue of clear sky, gray of cloudy sky. These colors make me feel at home. Other colors provide variety and surprise, but they are, honestly, accessories in nature’s décor. You’re the ultimate design star.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Checkmate, Death! You lose.”

[In the tomb, perhaps? No, He didn’t say it; didn’t speak English, remember?]

D. Blog: Changing Our Minds

- Change happens at the speed of thought.

- Change how you see, not how you look.

- The truly educated never graduate.

- If we don’t change directions, we’ll end up where we’re going.

A New and Improved KJV?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“Peace is when my little brother gives me a hug.” – Asanti, age 8

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When the brightness of the day touches my spirit – how can I keep from singing!?
When clouds hide both sun and mountaintops – how can I keep from singing!?
When rain drenches the ground with life-giving moisture – how can I keep from singing!?
When the wind makes tree branches dance wildly – how can I keep from singing!?
When snow covers everything in a white comforter – how can I keep from singing!?
For I know these are truly “acts of God.”
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“So, Judas, is this your version of throwing somebody under a bus?”

[He didn’t say this when Judas gave Him a kiss at the scene of His arrest.]

D. Blog: New(?) KJV

I guess I’m way out of the loop. I had not heard until recently that King James had authorized a new version of the Bible. I also guess the Baptists and conservative Presbyterians who headed the project must have some otherworldly connection with the old king. Apparently, he thought they should revise the originally authorized edition to incorporate modern words, grammar, idiom and syntax.

One might well ask: “Why call it the NKJV? Why not the Revised KJV? Why not the US Baptist and Conservative Presbyterian Version? Why not the Resurrected KJV?”

One might also ask: “Do you suppose this ridiculous title has anything to do with what will sell to American Christians who are incapable of critical thinking?”

Does This Work??

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Freedom without peace really means being held hostage to threats of violence.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

My heart breaks for the woman I met, call her Gloria. When she came to the door in response to my knocking, I saw a blackened eye and a gap where two teeth had once been. The little house needed significant repairs, the front deck teemed with clutter and broken furniture, the yard, well, it had the look of a wannabe desert, despite signs that Gloria had tried to establish some plants here and there. With clear but depressed voice, she said “The system isn’t working for me,” and “’They’ don’t care.”

Life has beaten her down, God. I care, but don’t know what I can possibly do. You care even more; surely you can help her.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Terrible sound. Can’t anybody tune a banjo?”

[Even He probably couldn’t, but He did not say this.]

D. Blog: Is That All There Is?

The campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee is decided already. Sorry, political observer-pundits. Perhaps after all but two had dropped out, a coin toss would have made for a better process. Certainly a more efficient, less damaging one.

SUV, Anyone?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

To enter the securioty of the peace community, you have to leave your weapons at the gate.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Life goes on.
We experience disappointment and loss, heartache and tragedy.
Life goes on.
We face new opportunities and challenges, hope arises and laughter soothes our spirits.
Life goes on.
You renew and restore us to find abundance once more.

Quite a process you developed to keep life moving.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Can you help me find my lost sheep? It answers to the name Nemo.”

[Cute thing, but He never said it when He told the parable.]

D. Blog: Buying Smaller Cars

The news reports say that Americans are buying smaller cars after years of falling for bigger vehicles. DUH!

Trust the Process

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace is an equal opportunity employer. Apply now.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You permeate our landscape.
You dwell in our relationships.
You participate in our activities.
You are everywhere. No space and no time exist without you.
Thanks be to you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Abba, are you sure that I can trust this process?”

[That isn’t exactly what He said in the Garden of Gethsemane.]

D. Blog: A Haiku

Trees have quiet dignity,
For they live in peace.
We could follow them.

Ray-guns Against Peace

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The river of life flows peacefully. The occasional rapids only highlight that fact.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Another day lies before me. I have few things in mind to do, only one thing scheduled in fact. After a full day yesterday, a leisurely one would be fine. But I expect surprises will pop up to add more to the joy of life at home in these mountains.

As I think upon my years, I know that I dwelt much of the time in flatlands, where I had many good moments. Now, though, among these hills, I feel nestled in your arms, ready to receive the new delights you will offer in this day.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I just want the world to be a better place for my having been here.”


[Of course. But He never said it.]

D. Blog: Peace Signs

The 60 Minutes program had a report about a “ray-gun” the US military is developing or has developed. A non-lethal weapon, it repels attackers rather than killing them. It’s having a difficult time gaining acceptance with military brass.

That’s telling in itself, but what really stirred my juices, was seeing one of the demonstrations of the weapon’s capabilities. It was fired at a supposed group of protesters who carried signs with peace slogans and posed no real threat. Like these are the intended targets for this weapon???

There is the possibility that the demonstration intended to show some irony. The military is not usually given to such subtlety, however. And, if that was supposed to impress military brass, I can see how they would not be impressed with seeing it used against peaceful protesters rather than truly dangerous and lethal attackers. I suppose the thing will get small enough to be carried by a soldier in the field. Then what?

On the other hand, a potential weapon in the arsenal for peace:

http://www.preachingpeace.org/makingpeace.htm

The Word

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Don’t let the light go out. Do something for peace today.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The views of trees, mountains, sunlight – the refresh my soul. In them I find rest and peace, and I receive new energy.

The experience of beauty in art and craft and people – they keep my hope alive. In them I take confidence that your divine experiment with life is absolutely worthwhile.

The encounters with people who care and create – they give joy to my spirit. In them I know connection -- to them and, through them, to you.

I feel wrapped in the embrace of your grace.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Kill the umpire!”

[He never said it, wasn’t a fan of American sports.]

D. Blog: Letters, Words, Word

We sometimes speak of “persons of letters.” I don’t know about the terminology, but it leads me to reflect that letters, in one sense, are nothing unless they convey words. In another sense, a letter is nothing unless its words express something important or meaningful, and do so clearly.

Words are wonderful. It’s no wonder that the Gospel of John identifies Christ as the ultimate word from God. He conveys meaning. He speaks clearly in words and deeds. He reveals God to us, God’s too often blind and deaf human children.

Give thanks for words and for The Word Made Flesh.