The Inauguration

I am finding the discussion about Barack Obama's choice of Rev. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback church as his inauguration speaker, rather curious. It is quite the topic on many of the radio talk shows, and people are in a real uproar about it, on both sides of the aisle. While I don't agree with many of the positions of Rev. Warren, I think I understand what Barack Obama is trying to do; to reach across the aisle. Rev. Warren has been accused of "hating gays" and yet he and his wife are huge supporters of treatment of HIV/AIDS in Africa. That is somehow being ignored. He also is very strong on social justice issues, in dealing with poverty, etc. So it makes sense that Obama would choose him, irrespective of the fact that they don't agree on every issue. Who does?

But http://http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-etheridge/the-choice-is-ours-now_b_152947.html by Melissa Etheridge is one that I loved reading. And she raises some great points, in defense of the selection of Rick Warren, and speaks of her own personal experience with him. It's an interesting read, and I applaud Melissa Etheridge for her challenge to the GLBT community, to take a deeper look, and to maybe even join him in his causes to treat HIV/AIDS, and to get to know the people of Rev. Warren's church so they can actually see that GLBT people are not to be feared. You Go GIRL!

But what my hope is, is that everyone will relax and quit assuming what he is about, or what he might say that they won't like, and just let the man speak. I read the Purpose Driven Church, and the Purpose Driven Life. And while I didn't agree with everything he said, in fact had a huge problem with his theological perspective at the beginning of Purpose Driven Life there are lots of good points in it.But his chapter on Worship (I believe Chapter 7) was very profound, talking about worship being more than what we do on Sunday mornings, but how we live out our lives between Sundays. Great stuff!

It was Barack's choice to choose Rick Warren. He could have chosen someone else, but he didn't. It is his inauguration afterall. It is one speech, when it really comes down to it. And I think we are all going to survive. I see Barack's choice as curious, but he hasn't done much yet that hasn't been well thought out. And if he can, through this selection, get the evangelical and conservatives to come a little to the left and the liberals to come a little closer to the right, isn't that a good thing? If we can end the polarization in this country, whether it be religiously or politically, isn't that a good thing? If we can actually have a dialogue, without throwing out insults, and discrediting the others simply because they are on the opposite team, isn't that going to be a good thing for our faith as well as our country? I think so. I hope so. It seems like the progressive thing to do.

I think Barack has taken the high road, on many occasions. He has been talking all through his campaign that he is one who will reach across the aisle, and he has done so, in the selection of many of his cabinet members, and now in his selection of Rev. Rick Warren. I for one, think it is a very good thing.

The Four Most Important Words

GOD IS WITH US!

Emmanuel. God is with us. Jesus is born.


Susan

Advent Conspiracy

I learned about a movement called "Advent Conspiracy" to encourage us all to cease the endless shopping and giving gifts to each other that we really don't need, and to take that money to give to the poor, for things such as waterwells for clean drinking water.

Here is the link: http://www.adventconspiracy.org/ It is quite an amazing thought that the United States spends 45o billion each year for Christmas shopping. How often are those gifts returned, or not needed, etc. The idea is to give to each other with gifts of relationships, of time spent together, of doing specific things for each other, without spending all the money, but then taking that money to do things like help to purchase a water well in a third world country, where clean drinking water would be a life changing act for many people. The cost of water wells would be about 10 billion, to give those who need clean drinking water, that possibility.

Another friend went to Skid row today in downtown LA to deliver some teen clothes that they had a real need for. She then delivered supplies to the Humane Society and realized that dogs are treated better than human beings. The sight of a man laying in the street, and the numbers of homeless who were all over was quite overwhelming.

It reminds me of my time in Central America. It was a life changing experience to see the poverty there, and then to return home and see our abundance. The 25 choices of toothpaste, breads, cereals, fruit/vegies, meats, pastas, etc. etc. etc. When I first came home, I actually stood at the opening of the grocery store and was so overwhelmed I couldn't go inside. I was there over 25 years ago now, and it still effects me. When it stops having an effect on the choices I make, the compassion I feel, the memories I hold, I will return to some third world country, to give from my own abundance.

And yes, we have at least 10 different varieties of healthy dogfood, pads for them to sleep on, toys to play with, etc. etc. etc. We do treat our dogs better than our people.

Another Angel in Heaven

Heaven has another angel today. When I think of the Beattitude “Blessed are the Pure of Heart, for they shall see God,” I think of both Mildred and Clarence. To be in their home, was to be surrounded by the loving Holy Spirit, and to be the recipient of that gracious and sincere love. I will cherish my times as their pastor, to read scripture with them, and to pray with them, only to have them conclude the prayer with a prayer for me as well. To be in their home, was to be a part of their family. To be with them was to be with those who already lived out eternal life as they lived their life every day.

Mildred: so sweet and quiet, but with a smile that revealed a joy deep within. A woman who was sometimes nervous, and a worry wart, but who calmed right down when Clarence just said, “It’s ok mama.”

Clarence and Mildred loved to sing. They loved their Gaither songs, and we would often sit in their living room and watch their Gaither tapes and sing right along. Let me correct that: Clarence and Mildred would sing, every word, with such amazing joy! I watched them and listened, because I wasn’t familiar with the words nearly as well as they were, and it was too much fun to just watch them!

So Mildred died as she lived. She died with a peaceful knowledge of God’s love for her, surrounded by her loving daughters, and singing all her favorite hymns. Who could ask for more? She was enjoying herself so much that even when she could no longer sing, she was tapping her toes!

Carolyn and Connie, you gave your mom such a wonderful gift. You lovingly and faithfully stayed with her, and loved her into the heavens. You held her hand on this side of life, knowing that she would be greeted and welcomed by Jesus, Clarence and all of her family who have gone before her. What a grand reunion! And so, while we grieve, we grieve not as one who has no hope. We grieve as those who know that to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord. We grieve as those who know that our separation is for but a little while, but we will see them again.

I can only imagine the conversation that Clarence and Mildred had when she first went home. It may have gone something like this: “Well Mildred, what took you sooooo long?”
“Well, I don’t know daddy. The girls and I were just having such fun singing and telling stories, I just decided to stay awhile longer! But I’m here now, forever.”

And let’s just say that Connie and Carolyn didn’t fall far from the tree, in being the loving and faithful women of God that their parents were. The blessings of God’s love and grace have truly been passed down to the next generations.

So as you grieve today and in the days to come, I hope you also spend a lot of time celebrating Mildred’s long and loving life. Continue to tell the stories; laugh, and cry, and celebrate all of the wonderful qualities that made the special person she was. I count my time as Mildred and Clarence’s Pastor as one of the greatest privileges of my ministry; a time when I know I received as much if not more from them as I ever gave.

God Bless you with comfort and peace and with rest.

Children in Church

One of my favorite parts of the sundays leading up to Christmas are all the children's choirs. Today they were out in full, the children all dressed up in their Christmas dress clothes, and singing various Christmas carols. Our youngest group, the Cherubs were my favorite today though. One their way in, looking so cute and excited to be singing, I saw three visions of joy! The first was a young girl with her dress up to her waist in front of the whole congregation. . . adjusting her underwear. The second were two little kids, one boy and one girl, who had to wave to mom and dad in the congregation. And the third was a little boy who while singing, got down off the middle riser, to stand directly behind of a little girl in the front row. He proceeds to take his hand and put it on the top of his head, and moves his hand towards the top of her head, to see who was taller. When he finished, he got back up on the riser in his position and continued singing Away in the Manger! I had to really contain myself to not crack up. They are so . . . themsleves!

The other part I love during the Sunday worship are the families lighting the Advent Candles, where the children read the passages and the parents light the candles. They are usually so proud to be there, taking it so seriously, and do such a great job.

There are lots of things about Sunday mornings of Advent, but these are a few.