Just an early morning photo from this past August

Hancock Point Maine at low tide

Book of Daniel

Sunday, I 'm going to talk with my group about Daniel's dream. He sees no end to oppression in the world. Each leader is worse that the one before.... Sounds familiar doesn't it ?

Fortunately, there is ONE leader we can count on ...

Gay Ordination

This morning, my Christian congregation voted to leave the ELCA (our governing body). While the main issue was the ordination of gay pastoral candidates, those pushing for this action claimed that it was really about the Synod not adhering to the Word of God and that homosexuality was NOT the real issue.

I was not at the vote or the preceding meeting. The reason being that I feel this action is horribly wrong and I feel so strongly about it....it makes me physically ill. My understanding is that homophobic comments were made during the proceedings and and not challenged. Sadly, I am not surprised by this.

This Church has been a big part of my life. I feel shame and  sorrow over these actions.

One of my favorite Jouhikkos....

C.S. Lewis on Fascism and Communism (paraphrased by me)

Fascism and Communism are powerful because of the good that they imitate. This "good" is appealing to some, because of those who have left humanity starved of that particular need (or good).

We must stand guard against the penetration of politics into Christianity, especially the extreme Left and Right ideologies. They will feed upon, and exploit the openings provided by our inattention and ignorance.

We will presently see both a Leftist and a Rightist pseudo-theology developing and this will be an abomination! (Lewis had these thoughts over fifty years ago...looks like he was correct.)

Firsts !

This is my first post in moons.  Makes me think of other, special "firsts" : First swig of cold beer, on a hot day. First coffee in the morning. First car. First love. First kid.  And, when I go for the paper, the first breath of summer morning air.

 

Recently, I had the honor to be involved in the opening of the Finnish Heritage Museum in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. This fledgling Museum, this cultural jewel on Lake Erie is a very positive development and it stands as an example of how one ethnic group has worked to keep their culture, music, history and language alive so that succeeding generations may remember the struggles, triumphs and joys of their immigrant forefathers.
Northeast Ohio has a very exciting history, rich with the diversity of the many ethnicities that have come to call Northeast Ohio HOME! One common thread connects us all: Our ancestors came here to find a better life for themselves and their families....we must never forget that basic truth!
Those of us in Lake County are particularly blessed, in that our community is being enriched by the arrival of immigrants from Mexico, who bring with them enthusiasm for our entrepreneurial traditions, love of family and the toughness to start a new life, regardless of the obstacles put before them. While these folks are not really "newcomers" (They are more closely related to the original Americans than most of us) hopefully, in the near future, they too will have a place where they can come to remember and reflect on their heritage.

This is where I worked

the year Lizzie was born.

I can't remember why

The winter sun touches

the naked church...

No one prays, now!

ICE Crackdown on "Illegals"

Imagine this scenario: You come home from work and your spouse is gone, carted away by plainclothes, government agents, and you are not told where they have been taken. Your children are questioned on their way to school and threatened if they don't give information about their neighbors. Your grandchild is taken from your daughter and you have to appear at a government office to get the baby returned.

Where did this take place? Hitler's Germany in the thirties? Mao's China? Stalin's purges? No! These violations of personal freedom and dignity allegedly took place in Lake County, Ohio in May, 2007. Supposedly a crackdown on illegal immigrants ( a euphonism for Mexicans ), individuals were targeted because they "looked" Hispanic . It appears that human rights were violated, with no warrants, and that these alleged actions took place because certain special interest groups pressured the immigration authorities. The "crime" committed by these individuals was that they sought a better life for their families. Precisely the reason this country was founded.

Since our government no longer takes the high moral ground and has pretty much given up on recruiting people capable of critical and moral thinking , and uses our young people (including a disproportionate number of Hispanics and Blacks) as fodder for a war based on economic considerations, we have to be more vigilant. Our form of government has worked well up to a point, but it cannot continue if it becomes non-representative, made that way by our apathy and our obsession with ease and with ourselves. Just as a soul can be possessed by demons when there is a spiritual vacuum, so too can greed and ignorance befoul the body politic when reason and compassion are no longer present. Who will be the next group to be singled out? Blacks? Arabs? Asians? You? Me?

Some Haiku Attempts

A homebound soldier...
alone in a hotel
with a Gideon Bible


Old Arthur Whitman's Model A
dusting down the road
Seems so fragile


August mist on Frenchman Bay
shrouds for schoonermen past

V-J Day
Mother's radio
plays the Andrews Sisters

Hispanics in the Military

At present, Hispanic soldiers are dying in Iraq at a rate 60% greater than that of the rest of the military age population. 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam. 3070 died. 13 won the Congressional medal of Honor.

12 Hispanics won the Medal of Honor in World War II.

11 Hispanics won the Medal of Honor in Korea.

I wonder....did anyone remember to check their proficiency in English?

Pope Benedict and God's Love

Pope Benedict’s first encyclical deals with how Christians understand the sometimes simple, sometimes complex concept of love. Love that, “God lavishes upon us and which we must share with others”. The Pope goes on to say, “I wish to emphasize some basic elements, so as to call forth in the world renewed energy and commitment in the human response to God’s love”.

Many journalists and churchmen were taken by surprise by this document.I think
expecting some sort of “social ministry” message dealing with the evils of our the world community.

We forget that the simple act of loving one’s neighbor is the cornerstone of the
Christian faith. I think Catholics and Protestants alike can benefit from this dose of Papal reality. If all of us would follow this simple concept, we might find ourselves in a happier world.

Definition of God

God, by a popular definition is: One's ultimate reality or that than which there is nothing greater in one's life. Recent studies seem to indicate that humans are "wired" for a god and that we ALL have a god. That god might be money, power, position and even an all consuming belief and dedication to a concept or particular value. It can be said that even atheists have a god....their dedication to their idea. Certainly, it can be said that the God of the Christians and the Jews is their ultimate reality. He is now, always was and forever shall be. God does NOT exist in the sense that some folks would like him to. For something to exist, it must be created. God was NOT created. As explained in the Athanasian Creed: Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit. The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite. When we try to make God conform to OUR idea of existence, we demean him, anthropomorphize him and turn him into an idol.

Sexuality (Homo and Reg'lar)

Sexuality….Homo and reg’lar

A major problem with arguing the sinfulness of homosexuality is that one must define “sin” before making any intelligent comment We must first understand what a sin IS and why certain acts have come down to us as sins. Did God arbitrarily choose some acts and omissions and throw them in to the pot marked “SIN”? Or, is there some reason that we have been given this lengthy list of “dos” and “don’ts”?
William Spurrier defined sin as: “….the belief that man is self-sufficient, that he is the master of his fate and the captain of his soul.” In other words, we want to be like God. We tend to think that His commandments can be altered to fit our particular circumstances. Our pride makes us believe that we can save ourselves from ourselves and live our lives according to our own constructs. There are two important reasons why we always get into trouble when we try to run the show: 1. Sins are immutable, there is no turning away from them, and they always shall be as set forth by the word of God and cannot be altered to fit popular opinion or current custom. 2. Sins are acts or omissions that interfere with the natural order of things, per God’s plan. Acts that will, ultimately, destroy us.
So what does all this have to do with homosexuality? Does God care if members of the same sex share committed relationships? Probably not. Does it concern Him that members of the same sex can find themselves in love? My guess is not. Why is it, then, that “homosexuality” is among those acts that are designated as sin?
Some conservative Christians claim that HIV-AIDS is God’s way of punishing homosexuals and that God inflicts this disease on those who stray from His direction. Fortunately, God doesn’t work that way. But suppose that the situation is turned around? Suppose that there is an aspect of a sexual activity that is destructive to mankind? So destructive that it cannot be abated and no matter what measures are taken, may disappear only to return in some more virulent form. Would not this activity, with its potential to destroy lives, fit the above definition of sin? It seems to me that it would.
Now ….if we all agree that that activity is a sin (I’m a dreamer) then how ought Christians deal with the homosexuality problem? I’m going to think about that.

Evolution.....

Evolution (again)

Over a half century ago, most progressive theologians and mainline Christian leaders were pretty much in agreement regarding evolution….the idea being (without going into great detail) that it really doesn’t matter how mankind was created. The important thing is that God is The Creator. The Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis wrote, “….I believe that Christianity can still be believed, even if Evolution is true.” Lewis refused to include arguments against Evolution in his apologetics, on the basis that how man was created is a false issue. The Genesis account of creation is about mankind’s fall into sin occurring because God “perfected the animal form”, according to Lewis and man became aware that he has a conscience. This conscience is what makes man different from all other animals. Without it, without being able to make moral choices in the interest of God’s plan, we would be no more “human” than rats or cockroaches. There would be no reason to have a conscience if we were not created to live within the bounds of this divine plan. In other words, what would be the point of conscience if we did not have a “higher power” to report to? Without the ability to make moral decisions, we would probably be better eating machines but we might also be living in burrows!
So….if it is the case that the creation v. evolution is really irrelevant then why have we not been made aware of this, years ago? Many are of the opinion that the mainline protestant clergy has not done a particularly good job of preaching the word of God in a way that can be understood and accepted by seekers and doubters in this modern world. The building fund has become a subject for too many sermons and, often, clergymen preach what the biggest contributors want to hear. Many conservative churchmen are in bed with money and politics, while their liberal brothers push “social ministries “ , which fly in the face of the very Gospel they are called to preach. This lack of a ministerial and evangelical presence in the community, has left a vacuum which has
allowed the “TV preachers” and conservative mega-churches to become the visible face of the Christian Church. Thus, the general public gets a rather mean spirited, judgmental, literalist, political and legalistic impression of the Church. A Church which spends too much time and spiritual energy arguing doctrinal and political issues. A Church which has drifted away from the wonderfully simple and liberating Word of God as set forth in the ancient creeds.

Bush - Kerry and respect for military honor

When one enters the military, one generally takes some sort of an oath of loyalty. The oath pre-supposes some sense of honor on the part of the trainee and an expectation of honorable performance by the particular service branch.

Once military service commences, what happens next is largely a matter of chance. Rarely does one choose to be a hero. The service-person is expected to perform honorably whether he/she is a Special Forces operative or is issuing underware to recruits. Upon discharge the soldier or sailor, if he/she has served honorably, carries the memory of their sevice with pride.

It is a dis-service to veterans to use military service as a campaign issue, especially in a high visibility election. The Commander-in-Chief has no business besmearching the military service of ANYONE, including their opponent. The Bush and Kerry camps both owe an apology to those who value and respect the service they performed.