Thesis #62

A little Reformation special for my Lutheran friends...

"The true treasure of the Church is the holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God."

Way to go, Father Martin. Reformandi continuo.

The Pope Goes to Purim...

Just about the crude-est thing I've seen in a long time: Madonna and her husband (ol' what's his name) went to a Purim celebration earlier this year. She was dressed as a nun (in full habit) and he as the Pope (complete with red cap and matching cope). Apparently, they thought it would be a great thing to poke fun at her former religion...especially on one of the holy days of her belief-system du jour.

If it were Halloween, I suppose I could understand. But really...what planet do these people live on? How is it that mocking faithful folks (of any persuasion) is funny? My guess is that Madonna and her consort wouldn't think of bringing a hamburger to a Hindu celebration. Nor would they offer a beer and some pulled pork to a Muslim. So why would you insult nuns and priests?

I suppose we can be glad that at least she had the decency not to wear a leather bustier over the outside of her habit.

...and tears like rain.

As someone of emerging self-awareness...I never realized how vulnerable my spirit is to the weather. And then we get a day like today. Grey. Cold. Rain...just enough to make it hard to see out of your glasses. And a good NNE breeze that eats through the outer layer of a thin jacket. All day I've had lots of things to do. All day I've been putting them off. A nap may be in order...

Aaron...if you are reading along: go home! Or at least call your mom and dad. Their love for you is so great. But all they have today is the grey...the cold...and tears like rain.

This is my body...

In about an hour, 5 little children will present themselves...all excited and ready to learn. We will re-live ancient stories and family feasts. We will marvel at the color of stained-glass pictures, the unexpected burn and fruitiness of wine, the feel of a soft dough working through our fingers. They will leave this place still excited...carrying their Bibles and a little work sheet that will most likely soon will be lost.

But what will not be lost is the wonder in their eyes when tomorrow they come forward and put out their hands and take into it the bread and the wine...the Body and the Blood. I know from experience that they will look up at me and smile. And the "amen" that they speak is barely able to contain the joy that they feel.

Oh, how I love this moment when we are reminded what it means to be so deeply touched by the One who loves us forever.

Absolutely gorgeous sunrise this morning.

I know, I know..."red sky at morning; good sailors take warning." But how can you not love the day that starts in such beauty?

Interesting piece of research...

Heard some statistics today: most American teenagers parallel their parents when it comes to religious beliefs. And that doesn't necessarily mean being Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist or (insert name of favorite belief system here).

Most folks, it seems, have become (or are becoming) deists with a kind of moral/therapeutic bent. Apparently, the couch culture of the modern psychology movement has merged with the latent deism of the American social system (thank you, Thomas Jefferson!) to give birth to a whole society that believes that God exists, that He doesn't really do a whole lot, that the ultimate goal of life is to be happy, and that our purpose here on earth is to be nice.

Yecck! Makes me want to throw up...