And We're a Christian Nation?

An interesting story from Belief Net:

Poll: Americans Pin Poverty Passage on Obama, not Bible
Tuesday November 24, 2009

(RNS) More Americans believe a statement about giving "justice to the poor and homeless" came from President Obama instead of its true source, the Bible. A survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Bible Society found that 54 percent of U.S. adults polled believe the statement -- "You must defend those who are helpless and have no hope.
Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless" -- came from a celebrity or politician, when the statement actually comes from Proverbs 31:8.

Of the 1,001 adults surveyed, 16 percent believed the statement came from Obama; 13 percent said it came from the Bible. Other popular answers included the Dalai Lama, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. Other questions in the survey also addressed poverty and the Bible.

In a question about the teachings of the Bible, 40 percent said the Bible offers the most teaching on heaven, pride or adultery, even though poverty is actually mentioned more than any of these subjects.(Emphasis mine)

The survey was developed to coincide with the release of the society's new Poverty and Justice Bible, which highlights verses about poverty and justice and provides tips on helping people in need. By Angela Abbamonte, Religious News Service.

This is another reason I tend to doubt that the US is a "Christian Nation" based on "sound biblical principles". How can our nation be based on these when the majority of its population has no idea what it really says? We progressive Christians are accused of "cherry picking" what verses we want to follow, and yet conservative churches are willing to ignore the majority of what the Bible says in favor of some purity laws that happen to agree with what they personally feel is correct.

Right now we are nearing the end of the healthcare debate for another season. Those in opposition to the idea of a public option have sited many fanciful claims, from "it's a government takeover of healthcare" to "it's something we can't afford." We hear that a public option either "will drag the current system down" or "will make the private insurance companies unable to compete". Meanwhile, let's look at some other numbers from the CDC:

Persons under age 65
Number uninsured at the time of interview: 43.6 million (2008)
Percent uninsured at the time of interview: 17% (2008)
Percent with private insurance at the time of interview: 65% (2008)

Children under age 18
Percent uninsured at the time of interview: 8.9% (2008)
Percent with private insurance at the time of interview: 58% (2008)
Percent with public health plan coverage at the time of interview: 34% (2008)

43 million people without insurance. Almost one out of every 10 children in America are without insurance coverage. That's one in ten children that are not getting proper medical care.

Add to that the 2/3 of bankrupcies in 2007 that came from medical costs. Also add in that every year the equilivant of the deaths in the 9-11 attacks die because of lack of medical care/insurance.

I usually sign my e-mails off with a quote from Zacheriah: "Render true judgements, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another" --Zechariah 7:8-10. How much more plain can you get than this? To me this is the priority of God, not worrying about who sleeps with whom or whether or not the Genesis stories of creation should be taught in classrooms. To be Christian means to follow Christ. We as a nation are doing a pretty poor job of this.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Posted on Roseanne's Facebook page:

(Roseann's Husband): Roseann's Spirit shed its mortal shackles at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. She would want you all to know that she went quietly and painlessly thanks to the loving care of the Hospice staff. She would want all of you to know that your expressions of love and well-wishes these last weeks made her passage much easier and that she loved and cherished you all. Somewhere tonight a new journey began.

From A New Zealand Prayer Book:

Let us pray:

Gracious God, nothing in death or life, in the world as it is or the world as it shall be, nothing in all creation can separate us from your love

We commend Roseanne into your loving care. Enfold her in the arms of your mercy. Bless her in her dying and in her rising again in you. Bless those whose hearts are filled with Sadness, that they too may know the hope of resurrection; for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Go forth, Roseanne, on your journey from this world, in the love of God the Father who Created you, in the mercy of Jesus the Redeemer who suffered for you, in the power of the Holy Spirit who keeps you in life eternal. May you dwell this day in peace, and rest in the presence of God, Amen.

God of all consolation,

Grant to those who sorrow the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have the strength to meet the days to come not sorrowing without hope, but trusting in your goodness through him who is the resurrection and the life, Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

In honor and memory of Roseanne, comments will be turned off until after her memorial service.

Thoughts from A Liberal Christian

Something that has bothered me in recent weeks. I have noticed that all of the advances that Progressive Christians have made in the last few years seem to be erroding and Fundamentalism is once again reasserting itself as the dominant form of Christianity in America. Having the perspective of being raised in a moderately fundamentalist home, I do have some perspective on it and why it is so popular, especially in the rural areas of the country. These are my observations, and they can be taken with a grain of salt, but they might help shed light on why this seemingly unforgiving and potentially harmful theology is so prevelant in our society.

1. Certainty: With the downturn in the economy has come an upswing in conservatism of all kinds. Religion is no different. The theology of "Good little boys and girls go to Heaven, Bad little boys and girls go to Hell" gives people a certainty in uncertain times. People tend to find comfort in things that do not change. Having a clear and basic theology, even one that is as flawed as Biblical litteralism, brings comfort to people. It is something that is easy to understand and gives a feeling of security. We saw a similar thing happen after Septembe 11th when people were willing to give up the uncertanty of their freedoms for security. Things will be better in the afterlife, so that is where we should focus, not on the bad times here.

2. Retribution: The Heaven/Hell scenario also gives those that are suffering a sense of comfort in knowing that thier lot will be better in the future. They can look at the Bernie Maddofs of the world and know that God will "get them back" for the evil that they have done.

3. Us vs. Them: Societies have always needed an enemy, an "other" to band together against. It drove the uber-patriotism of the 1980's to new levels as Ronald Regan railed against "Communist Russia". Today that enemy has become "Evil Islam", "The Gay Conspiracy", "Abortion Activists and Feminazis" and other groups that are "Unchristian". In having a scapegoat, we have something to fight for, a purpose.

The problem with this type of thinking is it forgets some of the fundamental principles of the Gospel message. Jesus earthly ministry, which has become a footnote in some circles, was about forgiveness, love, charity, and social justice. The Kingdom of God Christ spoke of wasn't about an Us vs. Them. It was an Us & Them. John 3:17 says "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." His focus wasn't about earning a "mansion in the sky" but about making this world a better place. The second part of the Lord's Prayer says, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven." Not on Earth so we can get to Heaven but as it is in Heaven.

We are all God's children, no matter who we are. "...in Christ there is no male or female, slave or freeman, Jew or Gentile." In order to get through this crisis today we need to band together, not as Christians, but as Children of God, regardless of what label we put on ourselves. We need to see the Christ within each person regardless of what denomination or religion they follow. In loving one another as Christ loves us, looking past labels of "Muslim", "Queer", "Sinner", and "Biggot" and reaching out to one another. Only then will we see the Kingdom. Jesus said that wherever your treasure is, so is where your heart is. Is your treasure a future reward for you or is it helping others here?

News from Gary about Roseanne

From Gary: Roseann was admitted to the Arkansas Hospice inpatient facility. She sleeps pretty much all of the time now and only wakes up for a few seconds at a time -- sometimes lucid, other times not. The Hospice staff is awesome and are doing a wonderful job of keeping her comfortable and making sure she gets anything she needs. Her room has an extra bed and I will be spending most of my time in the room with her until the end comes. Thanx so much to all of you for your love and support -- your calls visits & online messages meant a great deal to her (and me). Please know that she loves you all as do I.

Please continue to keep both of them in your prayers as Roseanne crosses the mists.

Day 2 at SSW

Well, what we saw of the Seminary is really nice. But we just got back from one of the local ER's. Spud tripped at the daycare and the corner of a coffee table decided to hit him in the head. He now has four stitches above his left eye and a big knot. The faculty and students here have bent over backwards to help us out and Elizabeth has been especially helpful. She stayed with us while Spud was getting stitched up and offered to bring us dinner from an outside restaurant and get some kids motrin for him. The Dean of the school came to the hospital and bought Spud a great big corduroy Elmo from the gift shop... I'm sold. If the discernment process plays out, I definitely want to come here.

Update: Spud is doing great. We stayed the extra day and left yesterday evening. We got back to Arkansas around 6am this morining and I am now at work, so can't post much now. I'll update everyone on the rest of the trip, which was absolutely wonderful except for the ER trip, but even that let us see Austin's top notch health care system. I want to thank everyone that has been praying for us and for Spud.

Day One at SSW

Whew... I'm beat. We left the house at 3:30am today and finally arrived at the Seminary at about 4:15pm. What was only supposed to be a 9 1/2 hour drive turned into over 12 hours. Murphy's corollary states that you should add at least 1 hour per child to any road trip you take.

So far everyone is friendly, even if we're only 10 minutes from that bastion of evil, University of Texas. I suppose I could still go to school here, but would have to wear Red and White every Saturday during football season.

All in all, day one looks good. We had a lot of good information thrown at our tired brains, the kids are worn out, and I am pooped. Tomorrow I meet with the financial aid advisor and see if we can squeak out the $1500 per month I am short should the Diocese of Arkansas decide I would be a suitable candidate for Holy Orders. We'll have to wait and see.

Road Trip!

Well, this Friday the whole clan will be headed to Austin, TX to invade the SSW campus. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! I'm not finished with my undergraduate degree, so I can't start the official discernment process, but this will at least give me an idea of what I am in for coming up. Besides, neither Mrs. H or I have been to Texas before, so this could be a real treat.

I'll try to post here and on Facebook what happens down there.

Prayer Request for Roseanne

Roseanne over at Give Peace a Chance Please posted to Facebook that she has started hospice. Please keep her in your prayers. She has had a long bout with a great deal of sickness, and has put up one hell of a fight. She's been an inspiration to me and others, and a great many of us in the blogsphere care a great deal for her.

Prayer for the Fallen

From the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servants at Ft. Hood; and we pray that, having opened to them the gates of a larger life, you will receive them more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, they may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ, our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us also pray for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of his love.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

More Bad News

Maine just repealed the law allowing for same-sex marriage. One step up, 5 steps back.

Hat tip to IT

While this issue has already been decided in Arkansas, and only a ruling from the Supreme Court will overturn it (hopefully), this is something to think about:

..... Limiting marriage to a man and a woman would not make families led by same-sex couples go away. It would just keep them in a legally inferior position that is inconsistent with Maine's tradition of equal protection under the law.

Gay men and women already live together, own property and have children, both biological and adopted. They hold responsible jobs, they volunteer in churches and schools -- they are full members of our communities. The only thing they cannot do is form the legal partnership that gives them the advantages and duties that other couples have when they start families. The same-sex couples are not the only losers. This also puts their children at a disadvantage.

I personally know at least three same sex couples that have children, some biological, some adopted. I've said it before, but I'll say it once more: their children are just as happy, healthy and well adjusted as any other kids I know. It's time to get with the program folks. Either we are a nation that believes in "liberty and justice for all" or we aren't. There can be no middle ground anymore on this.

One of my friends lives in the closet in fear because she is afraid she will lose her job and, more than likely, her 13 year old daughter if she were to "come out". The one and only place she feels safe and welcome is a radically inclusive little church that I also call home. This is beyond ridiculous, gang. This is a family we're talking about, not an abstract concept, not an "abomination", but a FAMILY.

A right wing blogger in this state equated being raised by same-sex parents with child abuse. My own parents voted to pass both the amendment that defined marriage between a man and a woman and shut the door on any possibility civil unions and Act 1 (that banned any single cohabiting couple from adopting or fostering children). The most recent e-mail conversation between my father and I left me in tears as I realized he wasn't the man I knew growing up.

I used to hope I could help change minds here in my part of the world, but I have felt as if I am shouting in a vacuum. As Bishop Spong supposedly said earlier, the battle should be over. But it isn't and people that have become my friends and brothers and sisters are paying the price.

I have seen a ray of hope in this state. Recently a 10 year old West Fork, AR boy was punished for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance. His reason, according to the Arkansas Times Arkansas Blog:

Their son told them last weekend he had decided to no longer stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school because he didn't believe there is liberty and justice for all, especially when it comes to gay rights. "To say them (words) and not mean them would be a lie," [his father] Jay said.

Out of the mouths of babes. Even a 10 year old boy can see that there is no justifiable reason outside of religious fueled bigotry to deny same sex couples the same rights many of us share. There is no secular reason why a committed, monogamous couple should not be allowed the full benefits and hardships that only a marriage can bestow.

Right now the battle in Maine is being waged at the polls. In California, it is about to be fought in the courtroom. Here in Arkansas, we do what we can while Right wing evangelicals whip people into a frenzy about the evils of "the gays", and the "queer conspiracy" while lining their pockets with gold bought with the blood and sweat and tears of a fearful populace.

I believe in the words of the Declaration of Independence "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by the Creator with the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Until that day, when *Ginny* can introduce her mother and partner to her friends without being looked down on, until a President can be Muslim or Atheist, and until *Jim's* family can not exclude *John*, his partner of 10 or more years, from his deathbed because the do not agree with the "lifestyle" this will not be.

*Name has been changed to protect the innocent*

Richard Hooker (1554-1600)

Anglican priest and theolgian, Richard Hooker helped usher in this grand experiment that we call the Anglican Communion. His "three legged stool" of scripture, tradition and reason are still the foundation of the Episcopal Church and other eclesiastical bodies of the Communion today.

O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lorelai's Christening

I'll try to upload pics a bit later, once Mrs. H emails them to me from her phone. Today was Sprout's big day, and boy was she ever pretty. Her Godpappa's bought her outfit, white dress and bonnet, bloomers, tights, booties and white blanket, and her Godmamma bought her the most beautiful little diamond and gold cross to wear. She looked so precious! Even Spud behaved himself through most of the service! It was such a beautiful day for it too. Even God smiled on us and gave us sunshine and warm weather for the event.

Mom and Dad and some of my friends from work came, and I got an interesting take on our practices. Dad, who is a Full Gospel Pentecostal, thought our service was "too catholic" for him while my friends, who are Catholic, thought the service very enjoyable and laid back in comparison. I guess the saying is true "We (Episcopalians) do Catholic right!" Doc and his wife may even start coming regularly, which would be very cool indeed.

Coincidence

I'm not one to believe in coincidences, but things just seem to keep falling into place...

First, I decide to talk to my priest about starting the discernment process (two years ago). He throws up the first roadblock... I need to get my undergraduate degree first. Well, being a lowly civil servant with wife and our first child on the way, there is no way I can pay for it on my own. So I apply for a program through the VA to get my degree online. It's approved and now school is paid for...

Next, I start looking into seminaries. It did't look like I'd be able to afford it, and my GI Bill expires soon. Then congress passes the new GI Bill for veterans that served after 9/11/01 (that would be me) giving us more money for school, a stipend to live on, and pays for most of our books... and the expiration date is extended to 15 years from the date of discharge...

Now (though smaller miracles), I am scheduled to attend the fall visitation at Seminary of the Southwest on 11/13-14. I was concerned that I would be splitting my attention between my current school and the visit, but it turns out that my classes this term end on the 11/10 and start back up on 11/18. AND... the bonus for meeting our goal in a competition at work hits my account on ... 11/13.

Like I said, I am not one to believe in coincidences. It actually sort of scares me.

There's a special place...

Great News!!!!

One of my best friends, Molly, just told me she is getting married!!! They plan on doing the deed in Colorado on the Winter Solstice. I am so tickled for her! She lost her previous husband to melanoma 5 years ago, so this is a big step for her. Please keep her in your prayers in praise of this joyous occasion!

Prayers Please

Spud and Sprout both have the crud this week and poor Mrs. H. has hardly slept a wink in three days.

I'm also in a bit of a funk after I made the mistake of sending my Dad, a die hard Pat Robertson fan and conservative, a copy of Spong's Manifesto. Big mistake... and now I am dealing with the consequences. Dad and I are on opposite ends of the political and religious spectrum, and that can be tough when he's someone I've admired and looked up to forever. His response broke my heart in more ways than I think he knows.

Spong's Manifesto

Ruth Gleidenhall posted this on the Times Online site... I reprint it here:

"I have made a decision. I will no longer debate the issue of homosexuality in the church with anyone. I will no longer engage the biblical ignorance that emanates from so many right-wing Christians about how the Bible condemns homosexuality, as if that point of view still has any credibility. I will no longer discuss with them or listen to them tell me how homosexuality is "an abomination to God," about how homosexuality is a "chosen lifestyle," or about how through prayer and "spiritual counseling" homosexual persons can be "cured."
....
'I will no longer take the time to refute the unlearned and undocumentable claims of certain world religious leaders who call homosexuality "deviant." I will no longer listen to that pious sentimentality that certain Christian leaders continue to employ, which suggests some version of that strange and overtly dishonest phrase that "we love the sinner but hate the sin." That statement is, I have concluded, nothing more than a self-serving lie designed to cover the fact that these people hate homosexual persons and fear homosexuality itself, but somehow know that hatred is incompatible with the Christ they claim to profess, so they adopt this face-saving and absolutely false statement.
....
'The world has moved on, leaving these elements of the Christian Church that cannot adjust to new knowledge or a new consciousness lost in a sea of their own irrelevance. They no longer talk to anyone but themselves. I will no longer seek to slow down the witness to inclusiveness by pretending that there is some middle ground between prejudice and oppression. There isn't.'
....
'I will particularly ignore those members of my own Episcopal Church who seek to break away from this body to form a "new church," claiming that this new and bigoted instrument alone now represents the Anglican Communion. Such a new ecclesiastical body is designed to allow these pathetic human beings, who are so deeply locked into a world that no longer exists, to form a community in which they can continue to hate gay people, distort gay people with their hopeless rhetoric and to be part of a religious fellowship in which they can continue to feel justified in their homophobic prejudices for the rest of their tortured lives.'
...
In my personal life, I will no longer listen to televised debates conducted by "fair-minded" channels that seek to give "both sides" of this issue "equal time." I am aware that these stations no longer give equal time to the advocates of treating women as if they are the property of men or to the advocates of reinstating either segregation or slavery, despite the fact that when these evil institutions were coming to an end the Bible was still being quoted frequently on each of these subjects. It is time for the media to announce that there are no longer two sides to the issue of full humanity for gay and lesbian people. There is no way that justice for homosexual people can be compromised any longer.

I will no longer act as if the Papal office is to be respected if the present occupant of that office is either not willing or not able to inform and educate himself on public issues on which he dares to speak with embarrassing ineptitude.

I will no longer be respectful of the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who seems to believe that rude behavior, intolerance and even killing prejudice is somehow acceptable, so long as it comes from third-world religious leaders, who more than anything else reveal in themselves the price that colonial oppression has required of the minds and hearts of so many of our world's population. I see no way that ignorance and truth can be placed side by side, nor do I believe that evil is somehow less evil if the Bible is quoted to justify it. I will dismiss as unworthy of any more of my attention the wild, false and uninformed opinions of such would-be religious leaders as Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, Albert Mohler, and Robert Duncan.
...
I make these statements because it is time to move on. The battle is over. The victory has been won. There is no reasonable doubt as to what the final outcome of this struggle will be. Homosexual people will be accepted as equal, full human beings, who have a legitimate claim on every right that both church and society have to offer any of us. Homosexual marriages will become legal, recognized by the state and pronounced holy by the church.
...
I will also no longer act as if I need a majority vote of some ecclesiastical body in order to bless, ordain, recognize and celebrate the lives and gifts of gay and lesbian people in the life of the church.
...
The battle in both our culture and our church to rid our souls of this dying prejudice is finished. A new consciousness has arisen. A decision has quite clearly been made. Inequality for gay and lesbian people is no longer a debatable issue in either church or state. Therefore, I will from this moment on refuse to dignify the continued public expression of ignorant prejudice by engaging it. I do not tolerate racism or sexism any longer. From this moment on, I will no longer tolerate our culture's various forms of homophobia. I do not care who it is who articulates these attitudes or who tries to make them sound holy with religious jargon.

I have been part of this debate for years, but things do get settled and this issue is now settled for me. I do not debate any longer with members of the "Flat Earth Society" either. I do not debate with people who think we should treat epilepsy by casting demons out of the epileptic person; I do not waste time engaging those medical opinions that suggest that bleeding the patient might release the infection. I do not converse with people who think that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans as punishment for the sin of being the birthplace of Ellen DeGeneres or that the terrorists hit the United Sates on 9/11 because we tolerated homosexual people, abortions, feminism or the American Civil Liberties Union.

I am tired of being embarrassed by so much of my church's participation in causes that are quite unworthy of the Christ I serve or the God whose mystery and wonder I appreciate more each day. Indeed I feel the Christian Church should not only apologize, but do public penance for the way we have treated people of colour, women, adherents of other religions and those we designated heretics, as well as gay and lesbian people.
...
This is my manifesto and my creed. I proclaim it today. I invite others to join me in this public declaration. I believe that such a public outpouring will help cleanse both the church and this nation of its own distorting past. It will restore integrity and honor to both church and state. It will signal that a new day has dawned and we are ready not just to embrace it, but also to rejoice in it and to celebrate it." --Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong...

All I can answer to this is "Amen".

Excitement Abounds...

The news in brief:

All Saints Episcopal Church in Bentonville, AR (my home church) has been in the process of purchasing land on which to finally build on. The Diocese of Arkansas has approved the purchase, and we'll be holding an outdoor service on Oct 25th at the new property to celebrate. This is a very exciting time for our young mission, and it's been fun to watch it grow from a small congregation into a thriving church.

In other news, Sprout will be christened on November 1st at All Saints/Christ the King in Bentonville. Anyone in the Bentonville area that day is welcome to attend. She had her well-baby check on Tuesday and has grown 2 whole inches and has gained over 2 pounds!

And finally, the whole gang, (me, Mrs. H, Spud and Sprout) will be headed to Austin, TX, next month to visit the Seminary of the Southwest. I am looking forward to seeing what is there and hoping that I can get a bit more direction in where this journey is going.

That pretty much sums up what is going on in the Hillbilly Household at the moment. Going back to full time at school plus work and baby and toddler and Mrs. and Church have been keeping me on my toes for sure.
'

Some thoughts on yesterday's Gospel reading

Mark 10:2-16

Much of this covered the question of divorce. This struck home for me, as my baby sister will be getting remarried this coming summer. Because of this set of verses, her regular pastor, a devout Full Gospel minister that has oversaw every sibling's marriage but mine, will not preside over this one. Between this and a friend's sermon yesterday on how the divorce of her parents after 34 years of marriage affected her recently and other messes in my extended family's lives made me think long and hard on what Jesus really meant in this passage. So let's look at the points here:

Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her."

In the first place, this is a test. My Lutheran friend's sermon brought up an interesting point. Divorce was pretty common in first century Palestine, much like today. Were the Pharisees asking if divorce was legal, to which they already knew the answer, or were they asking how one should go about it? Their offhanded way of answering his rebuttal shows that they weren't really interested in what the marriage was, just whether or not they could legally end it. This is where Jesus turns the scriptures back on them:

But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Here are the kicker verses, and the ones that have caused the most grief. So let's look a little deeper here. "Because of your hardness of heart..." We all know by now that the Pharisees would let their own mothers die on the Sabbath rather than break the law to go get a doctor for her. I believe, Jesus is practicing the age old art of sarcasm. Sort of like, "Yes, Moses says this, but if you want to really follow the scriptures you have read this part..." He knows, like everyone else, that sometimes we humans are unable to live up to the standard that God set for us. Nobody is perfect, and nobody can know what is coming 5, 10, or 34 years down the road. It's not, as it appears, an admonition against divorce. It's more of a zinger meant to throw their piety back on them in a way to make them question their idea of piety.

Marriage itself has evolved over the millenia. From biblical times until around the time of the troubadours, marriage was about property rights and alliances. These were arranged usually by the families involved and the husband and wife to be had little say in the matter. Wives in these times were little more than chattel, bargaining chips used to forge dynasties. It wasn't until the middle ages that monogamy became the standard in most of the world. And today the debate rages about whether or not we can allow same sex unions to be included in the umbrella of marriage. I think we should keep all of this in mind when we attempt to understand the "mind of God" in reading verses like this.

More Congratulations Are In Order..

Our friends Kerrey and Kari are now the proud parents of Lillian. 8lbs even and 19 3/4 inches long. Prayers of thanksgiving for safe delivery and a new daughter to compliment their two sons. Praise be to God!

Another hit on my childhood...

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dead at 72

(AP) – 1 hour ago

DANBURY, Conn. — Mary Travers, one-third of the hugely popular 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died.

The band's publicist, Heather Lylis, says Travers died at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut on Wednesday. She was 72 and had battled leukemia for several years.

I can remember my daddy singing "Puff the Magic Dragon" to me with his guitar when I was a wee baby and have loved Peter Paul & Mary's music ever since. And the woman could play one heck of a guitar.

Rest in peace and play with the angels.

We're #37!!!

Hat tip to IT...

Great News!!!

According to the Dr's, Sprout is doing much better and should be able to come home tomorrow!!! Apparently it was just a NASTY little virus that's been going around. My guess is that either I brought it home from work (I do work in a hospital) or Spud brought it back from daycare. Sometimes I wonder if I'm not raising little petri dishes...

Thank you all who prayed for her and for us. My baby girl's coming home tomorrow!!!

You have GOT to be kidding me...

This has got to be THE height of Biblically induced HOGWASH I have ever heard...

I wonder if anyone has told him he's the antichrist...

More Prayers Please

Mrs. H has been at the ER with Sprout since about 4:30 this morning.  I don't think it's anything serious, but that's the optimist in me.  She had a 100.8 fever this morning, and the discharge instructions said "if the baby has a fever over 100.4 call the Doctor." Long story short, the Dr. on call at the ER told her to bring Sprout in.  So far they've run tests for flu (negative), chest x-rays (clear), blood and urine cultures (pending) and such.  Her temp has hovered between 97.7 and 100 since she got there.  The doctor on call told Mrs. H that normal procedures for babies that small (I think they are treating her as a preemie, even though she was only 3 days early) is to admit for three days.  They have poor Sprout on all kinds of monitors and Mrs. H is at her wits end.  I of course am manning the fort and keeping Spud out of trouble at home, so I am getting all the news second hand.  Please keep Mrs. H and Sprout in your prayers today.

Recap, or How to Almost Have a Home Birth part 2

You know, you'd think I'd learn my lesson the first time around, but no...

8-31-09
1230am  Mrs. H asks me to put her to bed since I am still up working on a 1000-15000 word essay for class on Monday.  She is complaining of some back pain and wants me to rub her back... She asks me to stay home from work "just in case".

2am  Finish the first 500 words of the essay and call it a night.

6am  I get up to call in to work.  I leave a message saying that Mrs. H thinks she's going into labor, but I'm not so sure.

6:15am  Bloody show. Crap... Call work back and tell them it looks like there will be a baby after all. Since Spud came in about 5 hours from that point, I still have some time.  I start double checking our bags.

7:00  I go wake Spud up and take him to daycare.  I let them know that a friend of ours will probably be picking him up later because he's about to be a big brother.  Spud is ambivalent.    Teachers are excited for us.

7:45 I stop at McDonald's for a quick xtra large vanilla iced coffee.  Rush home.

8am  Mrs. H calls her doctor's office.  Hospital policy is that if possible you stop at your clinic first (which is on the same campus) so the doctor can check you out before hand.  Her contractions are "mild" (her words) but moving to about 10 minutes apart... crap...   The clerk can't get the nurse on the line but moves her 3pm appt to 9am.  We start loading the car.

8:40am  Finally on the way to the hospital (10 minute drive).  On the way Mrs. H has a contraction that nearly puts her on the roof of the car... count to 30....crap... still going to doctor first.
8:45 get to parking lot to Dr's office.  I go get a wheelchair for Mrs. H.  Before she gets out of the car she says, "I need to push!" ...s**t.  I tell her to get in the wheelchair and run across the parking lot to the hospital.
8:50am  We get to the L&D ward (on the 5th stinking floor).  Mrs. H is now only speaking two word sentences, mostly "Help!  Baby!"  I grab a nurse and tell her, "We're having a baby, NOW!"  Nurse calmly takes us into a room.  About 4 nurses follow.  One gives her a gown and says, "here's a gown, the bathroom is over there if you want to change.  Mrs. H is ripping her clothes off and trying to get the gown on herself.  "Y'all don't understand, she was pushing in the parking lot..." Not much more urgency.  They start hooking her up to monitors.  One nurse does a quick check of her cervix... "Guys, her bag of waters is right there."  Now they start moving with some urgency, Dr. Johnson is paged.

9am  After another 10 minutes of "Don't push" which Mrs. H ignores, "Not doing that again" (she endured 20 minutes of  "don't push" while we waited for the Dr. with Spud) and, "Doctor! Now! Baby!"

9:01am Dr. arrives, out of breath (he's clostrophobic and ran from the clinic, up 5 flights of stairs and into the room).   Someone throws a gown at him, "Gloves!"  He gloves up and gets into position when Mrs. H's water breaks.

9:04am  After 3 good pushes, Sprout is born.  Mrs. H rips her gown off to hold the baby.  I cut the cord.  After a bit she gets to hold our new daughter.  "So what's for breakfast?" she asks a nurse.

I don't ever want to cut it that close again...

Today she wants to go to some sort of Tupperware event... I don't think so.  The nurses keep asking if she's a patient because she's up and about and acting like it was no big deal...  She's a machine!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Lorelai Elisabeth Adkins born 8-31-09 @ 0904am.  5lb 3oz, don't have a length yet.  Mrs. H. and Sprout are doing great!  Talk about quick... 3 hours of real labor (her words, not mine), and we got to the hospital about 15 minutes before she was born.  I told the Dr. that she would go quick...

Update---  My wife is a friggin' machine!  She hasn't sat down for more than 10 minutes except to nurse.  First words out of her mouth after Sprout was born...."What's for breakfast?"  Here it is after 10pm and she's still awake and going strong.

Maybe Baby...

This may be my last post for a day or so.  It looks like Mrs. H. is going into the first part of labor so if you all could keep us in your prayers we would apreciate it. 

They're at it again

H/T to John Shuck ant Shuck and Jive...

Apparently the folks that brought us the Jesus Seminar are at it again.  This time they are working on an "Origins of Christianity Seminar".  If that don't beat all.  One of the members of the original Jesus Seminar, Dr. Marcus Borg, has been a profound influence in my theological persuits, and I think bringing out the human in Jesus is every bit as important as the divine Jesus.  While it had many critics, the Jesus Seminar did open up the floor for scholarly debate on the place of the historical Jesus.  Let's see if the same thing happens with this one.

Still No Baby Yet, but Here's A Little Filler from Margaret and Helen

Shamelessly pinched from Margaret and Helen's blog...

You can’t be Pro-Life and Pro-War at the same time. If one of
these dispositions has to be in your cadre, then pick one and
live with the consequences.

You can’t deny the right to marry to some and then cheat on your
spouse. The right to happily marry belongs to all no mater how
unhappy it makes you.

You can’t tolerate the atrocities of one President for eight years and then
assign the consequences to one who follows. From this day forward
everything was Reagan’s fault.

The Christian Right should be forced to spend a week in Iran. May the
best radicals win.

Still on pins and needles waiting for Sprout's debut.

Another Request

I just found out tonight that one of my fellow parishoners, call him R., was laid off today. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Prayer Request

Ok, I know this is nothing serious, but the Dr's want to check Mrs. H out today with a quick ultrasound to make sure her amniotic fluid level is ok. Their concern is that Sprout is too small, but they had the same concerns with Spud two years ago and he's fine. Still, as late in the game as it is, I don't think there is much to do besides pray, so if y'all could think about Mrs. H and Sprout in your prayers today I'd appreciate it.

Update: As I suspected, everything is normal.

It's Official... Arkansans are Nuts...

According to a recent poll from Public Policy Polling the outlook in Arkansas is not good...

Some snippets from the poll:

When asked whether they think Obama or Limbaugh has a better vision for the country,
55% of respondents selected Limbaugh in spite of the fact only 35% of them have a
favorable opinion of him, compared to 44% unfavorable.

This survey also found Arkansas is home to many ‘birthers,’ as just 45% of voters believe Obama was born in the country.
Do you think Barack Obama was born in the
United States?
Yes ................................................................. 45%
No ................................................................... 31%
Not Sure.......................................................... 24%

While these numbers sadden me, they don't shock me. I've heard these opinions and the "Obama=Muslim=Enemy" assertion from most of my family since the elections. Ladies and gentlemen, Jim Crowe is alive and well in the the state of Arkansas.

A Healthcare Creed

Pinched shamelessly from Father Jake's website:

As one of God's children, I believe that protecting the health of each human being is a profoundly important personal and communal responsibility for people of faith.

I believe God created each person in the divine image to be spiritually and physically healthy. I feel the pain of sickness and disease in our broken world (Genesis 1:27, Romans 8:22).

I believe life and healing are core tenets of the Christian life. Christ's ministry included physical healing, and we are called to participate in God's new creation as instruments of healing and redemption (Matthew 4:23, Luke 9:1-6; Mark 7:32-35, Acts 10:38). Our nation should strive to ensure all people have access to life-giving treatments and care.

I believe, as taught by the Hebrew prophets and Jesus, that the measure of a society is seen in how it treats the most vulnerable. The current discussion about health-care reform is important for the United States to move toward a more just system of providing care to all people (Isaiah 1:16-17, Jeremiah 7:5-7, Matthew 25:31-45).

I believe that all people have a moral obligation to tell the truth. To serve the common good of our entire nation, all parties debating reform should tell the truth and refrain from distorting facts or using fear-based messaging (Leviticus 19:11; Ephesians 4:14-15, 25; Proverbs 6:16-19).

I believe that Christians should seek to bring health and well-being (shalom) to the society into which God has placed us, for a healthy society benefits all members (Jeremiah 29:7).

I believe in a time when all will live long and healthy lives, from infancy to old age (Isaiah 65:20), and "mourning and crying and pain will be no more" (Revelation 21:4). My heart breaks for my brothers and sisters who watch their loved ones suffer, or who suffer themselves, because they cannot afford a trip to the doctor. I stand with them in their suffering.

I believe health-care reform must rest on a foundation of values that affirm each and every life as a sacred gift from the Creator (Genesis 2:7).

Amen.

The petition this comes from is here.

Good On ELCA!

Today the ELCA, our brothers and sisters in communion, officially voted that gay and lesbian clergy in comitted, monogamous "lifelong relations" are in fact eligible for ordination! Welcome aboard!

This news is of interest to me also because All Saints is currently renting space from Christ the King Lutheran Church (ELCA).

Thanks be to God!

From Grandmere Mimi

FDL ActionHelp us reach 25,000 petition signatures: House progressives need to keep the pledge for a strong public option.When Congress returns to work on health care next month, Jane Hamsher and nyceve will be there to deliver the petition.Click here to add your name to our petition.Dear June,After two months of your hard work, 65 members House drew a line in the sand: no public option, no health care reform. You responded by raising more than $175,000 for those members in less than 48 hours. It's a great start, but it's just the beginning. We need to make sure these 65 members hold firm. We've shown them we have their backs. Now they need to get ours.I'm starting a petition to the House to keep their pledge to support only a public option in both the House bill AND the conference bill.

I'm going to be in DC next month. If we can reach 25,000 signatures, Jane Hamsher and I will be there to hand-deliver the petition to the House when they return to take up health care.Click here to add your name to our petition to members of Congress who pledged to support only a strong public option.Members of the House who took this pledge will be under insane pressure from Rahm Emanuel and the rest of the Obama Administration to cave for an insurance industry bailout. Rahm's plan all along has been to trade away the public option. But Rahm didn't count on you. Now that we've shown progressives in the House it's possible to stick together, it will be our job to make sure these members hold the line on a strong public option.Let's be clear: these members need to hold the line on two votes.

Once when the House passes its own bill, and again on the conference bill that's combined with the Senate's version. Anything less is a vote for an insurance industry bailout.Help us reach 25,000 signatures on our petition to House progressives. You can make sure that progressives keep the pledge to only vote for a strong public option.Click here to add your name to our petition: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/keepthepledgeThanks so much for your help. I hope we can get to 25,000 signatures so I can deliver the petition with Jane next month.

Best,
Eve Gittelson (nyceve)

Award time once again...

For those of us playing the home game, this is Jerry Cox, president of the Arkansas Family Council. the AFC is the Arkansas wing of Focus on the Family. He has previously been awarded the Asshat Award for his efforts to keep orphans and children in foster care from being placed in loving homes via Initiated Act 1 (which banned any and all single cohabiting couples from adopting or caring for foster children).

He and his hatemonger group today recieve the award once again for their efforts to make sure that the poorest of us do not have affordable healthcare.

What I find especially deplorable is that this "gentleman" and his group claim to be Christians and yet are fighting tooth and nail against helping "the least of these."

Back to Healthcare

For months I have been couching the health care debate into a Christian context. I believe that basic health care is not only a right, but in a Christian context is mandated by the Gospels.

Let's put this in terms of our salvation, since that is another hot button issue. Where would we be today if John 3:16-18 had said, "For God so loved the Jews that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who is Jewish may not perish but may have eternal life, Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the Jews, but in order that only the Jewish might be saved through him. Only those who follow the Torah are not condemned; but those who do not are condemned already, because they have not believed in the Law of Moses."? Praise God that is not the case!

What if Jesus had turned away the Centurion, the representation of Roman oppression in Palestine, when he asked for healing for his favorite servant? What if Jesus had stood His ground with the Cannite woman who asked for healing for her child? He very well could have. Instead, He gave them what they asked for, healing. Then He gave himself for all of us, black, brown and white, male and female, gay and straight, sick and well, Christian and Non-Christian. He did these things without conditions. How can we, who claim to follow Him do any less?

In the gospel reading for this coming week, Jesus says, "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them." In participating in the Eucharist, we believe that either symbolically or literally we are doing just that. It is a physical action of "letting Jesus into our hearts" to be our Lord and Savior. Stop and think on that for a second. In accepting Him as Lord, aren't we then saying we will do His will? What is his will? Matthew 25 pretty well sums it up:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

If we don't do this, then how can we say that He is Lord of our lives? In denying those most in need, are we not thumbing our noses at Christ? This is why there is such a need for honest health care reform in this nation. We are the richest, most powerful nation in the world, and we still have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the industrialized world! Families each day have to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and paying for treatment for cancer. This should not be!

It seems rather ironic that many of the people who before were promoting and selling the WWJD bracelets and T-shirts are now on the forefront of the healthcare debate urging us to do just the opposite of what He did. To be a Christian means to be the hands of Christ within the world. If we cannot do this for the least of these, how can we say that we are Christians? Is basic healthcare something that only those that can afford it should have, or is it something that everyone is entitled to? To quote Rev. Deacon Gary Baird, “Today Jesus is laying the sick and lame at our feet and is asking, ‘What will you do?’”

More News on the Baby Front: No News on the Baby Front

I don't seem to remember this much hardship with Spud. Mrs. H. is cranky and uncomfortable, and has run out of things to clean. Her Dr. visit yesterday said she is only dilated to 1cm, so it may be shaping up to be a LO-O-O-O-O-O-NG couple of weeks. I think Spud is starting to suspect something is up, but his little two year old mind can't fully grasp the whole "big brother" concept just yet.

The bags are packed, the birth plan is written and signed, the babysitter is on speed-dial, and we are all set for the big day. I don't think it can come soon enough.

Then there are the irrational fears and concerns. Mrs. H. started hawking Tupperware, and has parties scheduled for the next couple of weeks. She has threatened to send me to the parties with a laptop so she can do her schpeal live via webcam. I am having nightmares of being in the middle of communion as a chalice bearer during the Bishop's visit and her water breaking at the altar. "I'm sorry, Your Grace, I have to take the Mrs. to the hospital now. Would you be a dear and finish this for me? There's a good lad." Or worse, having to deliver the baby at home or church. Like I said, completely irrational, but there nonetheless.

Whoever said it gets easier the second time around had rocks in their head.

A Music Legend Dies at 94

Les Paul passed away today from pneumonia. Among his claims to fame is the Gibson electric guitar that bears his name. A pearl white version with golden hardware, dual humbuckers and a Peavy amp were loaned to me by a friend while I was in college many moons ago. As the song says, it helped me make it through some lonely nights. The action on it was low and the sound was unbelievable, even with these untrained hands. That was hands down the sweetest electric I have ever played.

Rest in peace and Rise in Glory...

No Baby Yet

But the day is getting closer. I was working on some things to get ready for my next round of schoolwork next week, as I have found it is best to just stay out of Mrs. H's way when she is in "power nesting" mode (henceforth known as mistake #1). Mrs. H. kept coming into the garage/office to check on me, or so I thought. At around midnight, she popped her head in again and asked, "Whatcha doing?" "Getting ready to go to bed if you're ready," was my response, mistake #2. "Then you can finally come and help me!" "Well if you would have asked, I would have gladly stopped to help you: I'm not a mind reader." (mistake #3). I then walked into our bedroom to find the entire contents of our closet strewn across the bed and her putting baby clothes away. After finally putting things to rights, we wound up in bed around 1:30 am and I gave her a foot massage to help calm the waters.

This is going to be a LONG week or so. Since there is stormy weather coming in on Monday, I am guessing Tuesday will be the actual baby day. Then the real fun begins.

Reality Check on the Baby Front

Well, it looks like the date is getting closer. Last night Mrs. H. was vaccuming the celings at 9:30pm while I was trying to put Spud to bed. This is the same woman that had to call her mother to find out how to turn a vaccum on when we first got married. She had a "power surge" nesting moment that lasted well into the night, then her feet went numb and tingly from Sprout getting comfortable in her pelvis. This morning Sprout looks to have dropped some more, so we're definitely getting close. Mrs. H. doesn't think she'll last the weekend, but I'm not willing to bet the farm on it. If anything, I'm hoping for 8-23, when Bishop Benfield is visiting. I'm pretty sure Father Roger would drag him in to the hospital to see All Saints' newest cradle Episcopalian.

I have the countdown set for Sept. 8, but the actual date is Sept. 3. According to what I have read, Spud was an anomaly, coming in to the world on the day he was due, and most second babies come early, so keep your fingers crossed.

R.I.P. Free Speech

It is with great sadness that we announce that the First Ammendment has finally passed away in NorthWest Arkansas. She gave up the ghost earlier this month after a longtime battle with ignorance and fear. She was 218 years old.

With the cancellation of town hall events in Northwest Arkansas due to fear from the local Tea-baggers, free speech is now officially dead in Northwest Arkansas.

Link to White House Healthcare Site

http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/

Go there if you need ammunition against your Tea Party friends...

_______

I also heard one of my conservative co-workers say that Faux News has been saying Speaker Pelosi has been calling their protests "un-american". Truth is, what she has been calling "un-american" is the shouting matches and drowining out of disenting voices by the Tea-Baggers.

Prayer Request

Ok, I know there is a great deal of Catholic bashing, but I have friends that attend St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fayetteville, AR, and they are going through a rough time at the moment. This kind of situation is very sad, and I ask that you keep them in your prayers as this progresses.

FAYETTEVILLE — The diocese has removed the Rev. Bradley Barber from his pastoral role at St. Joseph Catholic Churchin Fayetteville after an accusation of sexual assault.The allegation is under investigation by both the church and the Washington County prosecutor, a church official and attorney said. No criminal charges have been filed, said officials with the Diocese of Little Rock.The accuser is in his early 20s and alleges that Barber forced him to engage in sexual activity Tuesday between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. at Barber's home, said the Rev. Francis Malone, chancellor for ecclesial affairs with the Diocese of Little Rock. Malone read a letter to parishioners during masses this weekend at St. Joseph. Malone said the letter was from Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Little Rock Diocese. Taylor said it was "the saddest letter I ever had to write."...

Barber, 53, is a former Episcopal priest. He and his wife joined the St. Joseph parish in 2007. He moved to Fayetteville from the Corpus Christi, Texas, Diocese. Officials there are being informed of the sexual assault allegations, Malone read from the letter.In an August 2007 Arkansas Catholic news article, Barber was critical of the Episcopal church for ordaining women, recognizing same sex relationships and allowing openly gay priests."Theologically, I knew I was Catholic," Barber is quoted as saying in the article.Smith said the accuser is awaiting a decision by Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Threet, who will determine if any criminal charges will be filed against Barber.

Again, I am only asking that you pray for the congregation, the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator that healing, comfort and justice will all prevail.

Anti-Tea Party Movement begins...

Ok, I have officially had it with the Tea Party folks. And I don't mean the poor schmucks who are scared out of their minds because of all of this misinformation out there. I am talking about the people who are whipping them into a rabid frenzy. They have polititians so scared that they are canceling Town Hall meetings out of fear and frustration. Frankly, I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to face that angry mob by myself either.



And they shouldn't have to. Where are all the folks who so heartilly supported President Obama during his campaign? Why aren't we at these meetings shouting back? We need to make our voices heard as well. But instead we are holled up in our storm cellars waiting for the bad men to stop yelling at us. Where is the passion?!



So get out there on your blogs, write and call your Senators and Congressmen, attend these meetings and FIGHT BACK! Don't let the Limbaughs, and Faux News pundits be the only ones to stir the pot! Start putting the truth out there!



And so let's start our own movement. The Anti-Tea Party!

Most of Us Already Figured This Out...

But the New York Times reported today that the American Psychological Association has decided that reparative therapy to change a person's sexual orientation doesn't work and is actually harmful. This is a big "no brainer" to most of us, but there are still the hold-outs who insist that it's a choice.

Times they are a-changing.

Hat tip to Grandmere Mimi for the head's up.

Joining the Digital Age

Well, it finally happened. This backwoods hillbilly finally has a Facebook account. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I have a friend at work that is so addicted she's constantly updating on her phone. Next up, indoor plumbing!

Father Jake is BACK!!!!

Woo Hoo! Father Jake Stops the World is back in business! Drinks are on the house!

Now go to his site and visit! His comments on the proposed covenant are as good as ever.

An Open Letter to the Pastors and Preachers of Northwest Arkansas

Last week, as I listened to a sermon by the Reverend Roger Joslin, my heart was broken. Father Roger told of events that had happened earlier in the year, of the death of Shannen, leaving a partner (Tammy)and two children behind, and of a disabled man and his wife who came to our church for the first time and found a welcome that they had not found in any other church. Both of these things sound like beautiful stories, but like so many, there's an ugly side to them as well.

On one particular Sunday morning, Tammy handed Father Roger a small handwritten note thanking us for the prayers, food and comfort that we had given their family in their time of grief. As a sort of pride in our church filled me in this, I felt sorrow as well. It made me reflect on how our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters are still treated in North West Arkansas. Where else would this family, for that is what they are, have found the ministry of healing and comfort they desperately needed? Outside of a hand full of Episcopal Churches, not very many. Instead they would have been looked upon as an abomination. The words of comfort, if any, would have been laced with the venom of condemnation and scorn. And that is wrong.

Then there was the second couple. Here they were, simple folk who had been outcasts even in the churches they had attended, finally finding a place that welcomed them for who they were, not in spite of it. They had finally found a place where they could belong. But it was snatched from them. After a few weeks Father Roger received a rambling email from them saying they would not be back to our church because of our stance regarding gay and lesbian clergy and same sex blessings. This nearly brought me to tears.

In Luke, Jesus asks, "Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? " You as spiritual leaders need to ask yourselves this. Are you giving your parishioners the Bread of Life, the love of Christ, or are you instead giving them the snakes and scorpions of condemnation and bigotry?

The Episcopal Church has made a stand. We are offering our whole selves, scarred and blemished to God by welcoming all people regardless of race, creed, sex, or sexual orientation. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. " We turn John 3:16 into a nifty T-shirt slogan, but we forget verse 17.

Our mission as Christians isn't about condemning others. It's about introducing them to the love of God. How many families have we destroyed, how many children have we killed, and how many people have we turned away from Christ because of our own bigotry? And that is what we have done. We, the Christian community have killed each child or teen that committed suicide because they were told they were an abomination and cast out of their homes. We, who were previously known by our love, have destroyed families by telling our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters that they are not real parents. We have turned people like the Ostermans and the other unnamed family away from God's love by telling them that homosexuality is a disease, an abomination that needs to be cured and eradicated.

This is why I am an Episcopalian. Because I believe that God loves us. Because I believe that salvation is more than just reciting a prayer and joining a church. And because I believe that we all are God's children, and that His love extends to the poor, the disabled, the LGBT community, the undocumented workers, the child that had an abortion, the drunk on the corner, the war veteran with PTSD, EVERYONE. The world needs that message. Will we give it to them, or continue to poison them with hate?

Happy Birthday SPUD!!!

Two years ago today, my life was blessed with the arrival of David Elijah Adkins. Happy Birthday...

Good news on two fronts...

First of course is the repeal of the moratorium on ordination of LGBT Episcopalians. All I can say for that is, "It's about dang time!"

Second, we have asked three of our friends to be Godparents for Sprout and all three said yes. So Sprout will have two Godpappas and a GodMamma! The Godfathers part is sure to cause a stir in my family, but they will just have to get over it.

So let the Wild Rumpus begin!!!

The Great Heresy of the 20th Century

Well, it looks like the Presiding Bishop accidentally struck off a firestorm with her opening remarks for General Convention. Here is the link to the whole speech, but this is the snippet that has gotten everyone in a tizzy (hat tip to Grandmere Mimi):



The overarching connection in all of these crises has to do with the great Western heresy –
that we can be saved as individuals, that any of use alone can be in right
relationship with God. It’s caricatured in some quarters by insisting that
salvation depends on reciting a specific verbal formula about Jesus. That
individualist focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the
place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of
all being. That heresy is one reason for the theme of this Convention....



Jesus’ critical decision to journey toward Jerusalem is about the city of God’s dream, Yerushalayim, the city of peace, the city of shalom, the city of God’s holy mountain, toward which the nations stream. We Christians often think the only important part of the Jerusalem story is Calvary, and, yes, suffering and killing in that place still seem to be the loudest news. But Calvary was a way point in the larger arc of God’s dream – it’s on the way to Jerusalem, it is not in Jerusalem. Jesus’ passion was and is for God’s dream of a reconciled creation. We’re meant to be partners in building that reality, throughout all of creation. This crisis is a decision point, one which may involve suffering, but it is our opportunity to choose which direction we’ll go and what we will build. We will fail if we choose business as usual. There will be cross-shaped decisions in our work, but if we look faithfully, there will be Resurrection as well.



These words, and the ensuing cries of outrage from Conservative Anglicans touches on a subject that I have been wrestling with for the past year, that of the nature of salvation. Is the "Confession of Faith" or "The Sinner's Prayer" what redeems us? Is the conversion experience all there is to this?



Unfortunately, this is one area where even the Apostles could not reach agreement on. Read the sharp contrast between the letters of Paul and James and you will see the heart of this debate. Paul's writings, especially in Romans, clearly point us toward justification by faith, that we are justified by our belief in Jesus as "Lord" and "Savior". James, the brother of Jesus, argues for the opposite in saying that "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead." So who is right in this? How are we saved?



Here is where it gets tricky, and I think this is where Bishop Jefforts-Schori was going with her bold claim on the Great Western Heresy. Salvation and repentance are not a one time thing. Simply saying "The Sinner's Prayer" or reciting the Nicene or Apostle's Creed are not enough, even if they are said with the utmost conviction. It's the change that takes place. Just like it's not baptism itself that is your mark of salvation, it is what that baptism represents, the "outward sign of an inward spiritual grace." James says it best when he writes, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder."

Part of our confusion I think stems from our definitions of faith and repentance. In recent times the word faith has become synonymous with belief and repentance with asking forgiveness. This is, however a far cry from what they originally meant.

First let's look at the word "faith". The letter to the Hebrews defines it as the "assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...." At first glance this definition does not seem to help, but let's look closer into this passage. As we progress through the chapter, we read of how people did things "by faith". It begins to become apparent that faith is much more than just belief. Belief is simply to think something is true. Faith, by contrast calls us to action. It is the starting point from which we begin our journey. To have faith in something calls us to move forward.

Next we need to define repentance. The Greek word used in the New Testament means to change one's mind or a change in consciousness (from Wikipedia). In the Old Testament, it meant to return or to feel sorrow. Again, this reflects something that does not happen all at once. Repentance is more than just to ask forgiveness. It is to change course.

So what of this idea of individual salvation. Can I alone be saved? I tend to think not. For the journey of both Christianity and Judaism from which it sprang is that of community. In asking for forgiveness, the Jewish tradition is to beat your breast and confess, "We have sinned..." This is reflected in the Anglican "confession of sin" in the Eucharistic liturgy.

In our modern society, we have become obscessed with the individual. Our focus has moved from what we can do for God to what God can do for us. This has bled over into our theology. But while a personal relationship with God in Christ is vital to our growth as Christians, it is not the only thing. As Bishop Jefferts-Schori so succintly states, we are the hands of God within the world. Our faith in Christ must be a faith of action. Our faith in Christ must spur us on to make the Kingdom of God manifest in the here and now. We can not do this by ourselves. It is only as a community of believers that we can accomplish this.

Prayer Request

This morning Mrs. H. got a call from her father's lady-friend. He went to the hospital in Michigan last night with shortness of breath and has been diagnosed with emphysema. She's naturally worried sick about him and would like to have everyone pray for him.

Update: Mrs. H's dad is being discharged from the hospital today and they are pretty sure he's going to be ok. He's decided to quit smoking, so continue to keep him in your prayers. As an ex-smoker I know all too well how tough that battle is. Thank you all for your continued prayers.

Happy 29th Again!!

Today is my birthday. I am 29 for the seventh time according to Mrs. H. Isn't life grand!