"Religious" Christmas Stamp

For the past several years, I have made it a point to ask for the "religious" Christmas stamp. I pick the Virgin and Child art rather than snow people or Christmas trees or antique toys or nutcrackers or whatever else is offered, even though those others can be cutely tempting. But I may have to be even more specific. For several years in the USA, postal customers wanting a "religious" holiday stamp in the Fall can/could select from Virgin and Child or EID or Hanukkah stamps. So, I think I will need to be even more vocal in my religious stamp preference and ask specifically for the Christian stamp! That could be a small witness to our special celebration.
Merry (almost) Christmas!

Advent, NOT Christmas

Here it is the second Wednesday in the Season of Advent. I am preparing for Evening Prayer and expect a small group to be present. I know I am supposed to focus on anticipation of Christ, the coming of the Lord. In other words, NO Christmas carols. Yet, it is the joy of Christmas I am looking forward to as well. What a great time to pull out all the Christian celebration and the secular world will even join in a little of it. So I wait -- but I want to get there -- part of that "proleptic eschatology" that my buddy Ryan Mills reminded me of. (Yes, he is a pastor, too.) Basically, it is the "already, but not yet" nature of the faith we have. All the promise is ours, but we we have not yet seen it all. That does not make it less true, just less realized. Ah, well, perhaps, I could at least put up this much Christmas decoration (my house would be on the right hand side -- that's where you want to be when it comes to God!).



(The red lights say "Ditto" in case it is not showing well.)

"The Blind Side"

"The Blind Side" : NOT a Thanksgiving turkey, but a Thanksgiving gift for the movie-going public.
What a warm, rich, challenging film for movie-goers this season -- and NO vampires!
I did not have great expectations of the film, but was deeply impressed by a tear-jerker film, which dealt with Southern racism, football frenzy, drug culture and its threat on poor families and young persons. What about those lost children that are "raised" in the middle of addicted parents and their pushers? How do they survive? Well, here is one story. Although a white family ultimately rescues the young man, he has independently developed skills that allow him to escape, to embrace the opportunity provided. One could only wish that situation for all children in such poverty and potential hopelessness.
Another noteworthy aspect of this film was the Christian faith that was just included as an obvious aspect of the family's life. No apologies; no creepiness; just a real faith lived out in the interaction with others. One hopes that good Christian folks would open the table of thanksgiving for even more unlikely characters -- not just in films but in everyday life.

Social Networking and the Church

Social Networking is what the church is all about -- from the time of Jesus calling the 12 Apostles as well as the numerous men, women, and children to his side during his earthly ministry, to the Pentecost celebration, to the work of Paul calling scattered races to believe. The church is in the social networking business. The challenge is how to make that happen in this time when so many other options abound. Sunday church, well done, is a great place to start.

Mighty Fortress LEGO-style

Yes, that great Lutheran festival of Reformation Day is approaching on October 31! And Luther has invaded even LEGO-world! (Check out his hammer as LEGO Luther is ready to post the 95 Theses again!)
Enjoy!

New York City Research

For the last of my Continuing Education this year, I visit Wagner College on Staten Island in New York City, in order to research Northern Lutheran observations on the South, slavery, and the Civil War. Wagner holds the Sutter Memorial Archives related to New York area Lutheranism. The collection proved to be more extensive than I anticipated. Do I have to go again? Soon? To New York City?
Thanks so much to Clint Daggan, the son of the Sutter Archivist, John Daggan. Clint also showed me some of his research into northern responses to the Civil War -- very helpful indeed.
When I researched the history of Texas Lutherans long ago, I interviewed a very senior pastor (Fred Kern) who actually left Texas in the 1920's to attend Wagner. I tried to imagine this tall Texas from the scrub of south central Texas in the big city of New York -- what a cultural shift, but he taught horseback riding in Central Park and met his wife, an accomplished musician, in the city. God leads folks all kinds of directions.
Do I have to go again? Soon?

"I am a seething mass of Lutheran Midwestern guilt."

"I am a seething mass of Lutheran Midwestern guilt," said David Letterman on national TV. Letterman may not be the poster child of the Lutheran faith with the subsequent confession of multiple partner sexual experiences.
I would have hoped that his Midwestern Lutheran experience would have limited his transgressions. Perhaps the guilt after one or two experiences could have stopped or slowed him. Is he feeling guilty only because he got caught?
We do not yet know the extent of his actions, but we can hope that his guilt will limit his future actions. And we could hope even more, that he might embrace his Christian roots and embrace personal reform: personal witness to sin, forgiveness, and new life.

From SIN to Texas!

I am back! The title though catchy also explains my blog absence. SIN is not, in this case, a statement on my spiritual status, though as a good Lutheran I affirm that I am simultaneously saint and sinner.
In this case though, SIN describes my physical status -- SIN is the international code for Changi Airport in Singapore. I was in Singapore and Malaysia for a vacation. Fascinating experience. I will share a few more reflections about the religious situations shortly. Right now, I am recovering from some 30 hours in transit and a 13 hour time change to be back in Texas. When I catch up with myself, I will have more about the transition from SIN to Texas!

Confirmation Class -- The Last Summer Friday

Collin and Robert joined me for a Summer Confirmation class session today. We squeezed in a bit more of the Old Testament before they get re-absorbed into the school routine on Monday morning. Our small class is a joy as we think about Scripture, ask about God, learn some tradition, and share life. May God bless our sessions as well after school starts! Thanks, guys.

Atomic Testing Museum -- Las Vegas, Nevada

At the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada (several blocks East of Las Vegas' more famous attractions), one is introduced to the background and marvelous science of the hundreds of atomic tests performed in the Nevada desert North of Las Vegas from the 1950's until 1992. The quiet of the museum contrasted starkly with the noise and glitz of the Vegas Strip. I have visited the museums of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Alamogordo and Los Alamos in New Mexico, and Washington state's Tri-Cities previously to learn about the development of the American nuclear weapons ... and their use.
As a child of the nuclear era (yes, I learned to kneel in the school hall and cover my neck in case of a nuclear attack), I am enthralled by the spirit of the developers (scientists and others), the technological breakthroughs, and the scope of planning and development necessary. But I am also appalled by the threat in those gleaming products.
As a Christian, I wonder why God allowed humans to discover the secrets or even the prior question, why God allowed the possiblity of nuclear destruction even to exist?
As a human, I am hopeful, but confused, by the comment of one scientist's comments recorded at the Las Vegas museum, who stated that the nuclear testing proved that we could never use the weapons but he also recognized the value in having them -- Not to be used, but certainly to be possessed. Can we humans really handle that much power? Are recent efforts to reduce nuclear weapons really adequate? And, of course, what about the terrorists? Will we become the victims of our own weapons' development?

"The Passion of the Christ" - Final Summer Film

Last night, a biblical number of persons gathered for a viewing of "The Passion of the Christ" at First United Lutheran Church. It was our final Summer film.
Seven of us watched the graphic account of those last hours of Jesus life on earth. Seven of us watched through the closing that hinted at the power of the Easter resurrection and the new world possible. The movie itself almost drenches the viewer in blood and suffering. We asked whether all that was necessary. Apparently it was necessary for Jesus to suffer, die, and be buried. Is it enough for us to affirm that in our statement of beliefs every Sunday or do we need Hollywood to portray it graphically? The audience was mixed in opinion, but thankful that Christ went through the Passion and introduced the Resurrection!

"The Hurt Locker" -- The challenge of Iraq

Once more a movie review -- The Hurt Locker. This is an excellent film, small budget but so engaging. Oscar-worthy comes to mind.
It follows a crew of bomb disposal folks working in Iraq (actually filmed in Jordan). It deals with so many things: the countdown of tour, mixed relations with Iraqis, difficulty of urban warfare, boredom of soldiers, personalities of soldiers, and, most of all, the tension and detail of dealing with IEDs (improvised explosive devices).
The cast is amazing (with some interesting cameos) -- excellent actors all in this film. I felt like I was there with them -- even more engaging than the old BBC "Danger UXB" series. Also, it is relatively without political overtones, so it allows the viewer to engage with the soldiers apart from political persuasion.

Go see it.

Pray for the soldiers. Pray for the people of Iraq. Pray for an end to IEDs.

Bruno Schlachtenhaufen Rest in God's Peace

This month's The Lutheran magazine brings notice of the passing of the Rev. Bruno Schlachtenhaufen.
Among his other services to the Lord and his neighbors, he directed the Seminary Appeal for the old American Lutheran Church during the years I attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. I remember his name because I had the responsibility to announce his presence on campus with an invitation for any interested persons to meet with him. I had this announcement duty during the Chapel time when hundreds gathered for worship. I sweated out the pronunciation of his name -- not wanting to sound silly in front of the crowds, nor to hurt Bruno Schlachtenhaufen's feelings. When it came time for announcements, all the consonants and vowels rolled out beautifully. (I was even complimented by several persons afterward for my precise pronunciation.) Ever after, when I needed a great pastor's name to throw out for illustration, I fell back on Bruno Schlachtenhaufen.
Now, I read that he has passed on to his promised place with God. I think I may still use his name as it is tough to beat it, but I shall also momentarily reflect every time on the transitory nature of this world -- its duties, worries, calls to service, concern about possessions, praises for actions, and opportunities for service. And I shall remember the divine promise given to Bruno Schlachtenhaufen, fulfilled now in his passing. Requiescat in pace.

The Bible: In the Beginning ...

The Bible: In the Beginning ...
This was indeed indeed "In the Beginning" of our Summer "Reel Religion" film festival at First United. About a dozen folks showed up on Wednesday at 7:00pm to watch John Huston's interestingly conservative treatment of the subject (the first 22 chapters or so of Genesis). Perhaps the "Free Popcorn" was the big draw, but I think we all enjoyed the Hollywood-scale treatment of this very religious subject matter. It was interesting to do a little research and discover that the film was not a great money-maker at its release. In fact, many consider it to be the last of the Biblical Epics that Hollywood churned out from the late 1940's through 1966. I think the mid to late 1960's really challenged everything that went before. Even the Adam character (Michael Parks) followed this movie with his 1969 TV series "Then Came Bronson" where he played a restless youth trying to discover himself as he motorcycled on the highways of America. Maybe as the country reevaluated everything, the Bible seemed archaic. Here over 40 years later I think the film holds up as a faithful retelling of the early chapters of Genesis, though Huston is a bit goofy as Noah in my opinion. Catch it on DVD if you were not there on Wednesday!
(Next Wednesday, July 29, "The Nativity" from 2007! And there is more Free Popcorn!)

My Sister's Keeper

This tear-jerker, My Sister's Keeper, is out right now in wide release. Actually not bad for its type of movie. (Though I would prefer Star Trek again if I was going to repeat a movie.) What I noticed in this movie about young life, young death, a family's coping, questions of afterlife, and organ donation issues was a lack of reference to traditional faith. Only after one character's death do we see a pastor in the rain at a funeral. Prior to that, the family is on their own; no church friends are mentioned; no chaplain or pastor visits in the hospital; and the characters speak abstractly about the soul and wonder about what comes after this life. Are we that post-church today? Is there no one to speak about the faith, about the promises related to the afterlife? Are children growing up with no real concept of something, some certain hope after death? I pray that the church (that is, all the people of God) find a way to share our faith message because Hollywood rarely even gives us a nod nowadays. And we cannot simply be left for the last ceremony or be left out in the rain.

Arts Festival Accomplished!

We survived! No, we thrived!
The Midsummer Arts Festival came and went and we were inspired! Thanks to all the musicians. As one audience member commented: "How do they keep all that in their heads?" Well, they didn't. The music flew from head to finger to instrument and voice. Amazing music! I forget sometimes what a marvelous space we have for music -- the sound just rolls through the building and envelops a listener. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful -- what more can be said?
The audience enjoyed adding their voices through the Folk Songs, and they must have enjoyed them because when the lead-choir offered to skip one, the audience cried out to sing that one too. Next year, we need more sing-along time.
The ongoing Fine Arts dealt beautifully with the theme of "Despair to Hope" -- thanks go out to those who lent the pictures and graphics on display. And we had some tasty treats to sample as the beauty was appreciated.
The Vespers service was moving for those who spoke German and those of us who can keep up with some German. I think even the English-only speakers were captured by the beauty of the Abendgebet (Evensong / Evening Prayer). And then the Order of St. John fed us royally with delicious grilled Brats (and what was in those beer cups?)
We survived! We thrived! Or hearts were raised at Midsummer!

Getting Ready for the Half-Christmas Celebration!

When our children were younger, we held half-birthday celebrations for them, especially since my son's birthday was in July and otherwise he would miss marking the occasion at school. I have some misgivings about that now, since they still do not want to give the practice up and they are both in their twenties! But I digress. This coming Sunday, First United Lutheran Church is repeating a kind of half-Christmas Celebration -- a MidSummer Arts Festival close to the Nativity of St John the Baptist Day (June 24). On the 28th of June, we shall bring out the Arts indeed in celebration of John the Baptist as well as being half a year towards Christmas. We have pianists from child prodigies in the SMU Youth program to Cliburn Competition finalists. We have singers -- a South African and folks leading traditional German folk songs. Then we will offer a German Vespers service. The evening concludes with a Beer and Brats fest!
Christmas is a great time of the year. We hope to make half-Christmas a joyful, fun, and worshipful time as well.

According to their website: Dallas' Theatre Three concluded their 2008-2009 Season " with the dramatic musical, Lost in the Stars by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson, based on Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country. Lost in the Stars is the captivating emotional journey of loss, grief, redemption, and the resultant peace that only forgiveness and reconciliation can bring." It was an almost archaic reminder at times of the now old issues of Apartheid and societally-enforced racial segregation. At the same time it offered a review of old human issues -- want, accident, forgiveness, reconcilliation. I particularly appreciated one interchange between the fathers of two sons -- one the Black accidental killer and the other the White victim. Referring to the necessity of the death sentence when a murder has been committed, even when it was an accident and the killer has repented and told the absolute truth, the Black father says,"Jesus did not say this." And the White victim's father responded, "But where there is government, it is true." Issues of life and death are so "life and death" and yet what about forgiveness, truth, justice in an unjust society?

7:30am Saturday -- Volunteers Head to Habitat for Humanity!

Yes, at 7:30 AM on a Saturday, I joined a handful of volunteers from First United Lutheran Church, who headed for South Plano and a Habitat for Humanity building project. The early morning cool soon gave way to a roasting heat, especially as three of us started on the roof (Tim Ellis, Jeff Harrington, and me). I had a shoe "blow out" and my red duct job kept the shoe together, but made it dangerous to return topside. Therefore, I joined Paula Ellis in various ground level jobs. Broken by a delicious hamburger and hot dog lunch, we helped with the roof, hanging sofit (how about those air-pressure nail guns), marking cut-outs for drywall, and generally being available. Our small group was happy to see a committed group, including frequent visitors Elisabeth and Heinz Schaefer, making great headway on this duplex. We hope to join in again soon!

Monday evening, I attended a reception for Bishop Tom Barnett of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone (ELCSL). His soft-spoken manner cloaked the mighty mission of that church body which seeks to serve a country recently emerged from civil war. Their amputee project helps their fellow Sierra Leoneans while they also support refugees from neighboring Liberia. Our family has long supported the young church and believe they are doing wonderful things. (We also think they are good stewards as the church continues to use a blue Plymouth Voyager our family donated about ten years ago!) The ELCSL is currently constructing the Jubilee Center in central Freetown as a visible witness of the church's commitment to serve this impoverished country in faithful witness to our Risen Lord Jesus!

Peace and Love

I recently attended a production of "Love" -- the Grammy-winning musical adaptation of Beatles' music with the intriguing staging of Cirque du Soleil. Though slow-starting (IMO), it eventually played frenetic homage to the Beatles and some events of the era when the music was composed. And there was a Volkswagen Beetle! (Always a good sign in my book.) Close to the end, as the musical approached a raucous crescendo with "Revolution," huge words appear on one wall -- "Peace and Love." Then the words fragment and various letters begin to cascade down like rain. Art.
The show was overall amazing and worth attending (IMO again). When I saw those words though, I thought of Jesus as a much earlier proclaimer of "Peace and Love," especially I guess because of the texts from the Gospel of John (not Lennon) that we have been reading during Holy Week and Easter: the Great Love Commandment (John 13: 34,35), Jesus' immediate post-Easter offering of Peace (John 20: 19ff.), and this Sunday's text "This is my commandment, that you love one another ...." (John 15:12).
The Beatles once famously/infamously claimed to be more popular than Jesus. I suppose their music is famous indeed, but the message of Peace and Love from God in Christ preceded and (IMO) will outlast those four lads from Liverpool, The Beatles.
But we can all share the hope that "Peace and Love" will rain down on our world.

Tuesday, April 21 -- a couple of hours prior to the last post

Tuesday, April 21 --
A couple of hours before I wrote the previous post, my son, Alex, broke his ankle while bicycling. After getting off from their pizza delivery jobs at like one in the morning, he and his roommate Nathan go cycling through the dark streets of Arlington and Grand Prairie. Mom and Dad wish for safer choices (like wear a helmet!). But in this case, no late night reveler hit him; there was no bicycle stunt gone bad. No, he just stepped off his cycle and something went wrong and he twisted his ankle and then lost his balance and snap! His foot was limp and off center by 90 degrees and the distal fibula cracked. He rode by ambulance to the Emergency Room and got his foot set the right direction, but they only splinted the break. Mom flew off to Laredo to speak to librarians. Dad went to teach class and take care of church stuff. Several hours later, Alex awoke in agony, informed me of the situation, and we began the process of chasing down doctors and referrals and dealing with insurance. The swelling subsided and just today the break was finally repaired -- screws and plates.
Thank God for modern medical care, for dedicated medical personnel at all levels that addressed his needs and are helping Alex to mend! He should be able to cycle again relatively soon (but wear a helmet!). We are not sure, if he will ever be able to waltz. (That would require extensive lessons, as he has never tried before.) (That was my sorry attempt at humor.)
I do thank God that we are "wonderfully and fearfully" made. It was amazing to see the intricate design of how the ankle snugs up into the leg bones with ligaments wrapped to secure it. We humans are an amazing creation.

Sackbut! Love, Pretty Women, Dogs, and Drinking

Sackbut! It was enough to make me snicker in Junior High School, especially when our trombone player spelled it using the variation of sagbutt. I am older now, so I went to the Sunday afternoon musical performance expecting antique music from sackbuts, lute, viols, harp, and more varieties of recorders than I had ever seen. The concert included a nice selection of popular music of the 15th and 16th century, as well as religious music by Martin Luther. We still sing many of the Luther hymns in church. The popular music seldom is heard, though the themes -- love, pretty women, dogs, and drinking -- are readily identified in country, rock, tejano, and other modern music. But do those moderns use the sackbut? And are they missing out, since Luther's hymns are sung 400 years later while the other compositions have faded?

Easter Sunrise 2009

"Christ Is Risen!"
"Christ Is Risen Indeed!"
That ancient response greets another year in the lives of the people of God. And we are invited to live into that proclamation. Yet, we, like Mary Magdalene, may be confused about the meaning at first. (She initially thought Jesus was a gardener, not a risen God, after all. John 20) But the Lord calls us by name to enter the promise -- the alternative answer to death and all the perceived finalities of existence. Our sights must rise to see God's great Easter news. Our sights can rise to newness in life!
No slacker to new meanings, Mary proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord.” That same Lord of newness calls us today and always to see the resurrection touch our world.

Good Friday

I was in seminary, carrying an old cassock supplied by a retired pastor. I was leaving my house to assist at a local church. The neighbor called out to me -- "where are you off to with that old black robe?" I explained that I was going to be a participant in a Good Friday service. Then she commented, "Good Friday? It wasn't very good for Jesus. He died." The quickest response I could find (since I was running late already) was "Well, it is good for us! He died for us!" Did that count as evangelism -- telling the Good News? Or was I just being flippant?
To this day, I love Good Friday. Maybe it is the emphasis in my seminary education on the Pauline theology of the cross. (A favorite of Martin Luther as well.) But whatever it is, how can you not immerse yourself in "Sacred Head, Now Wounded" or "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" as they are sung? Or how can your heart not melt when you read/hear the Passion account, pick your favorite Gospel. What a story. What a God. What a demonstration of God's love. What a Good Friday!

Maundy Thursday 2009: Feet, Love Command, Communion

The challenge for a preacher is to cram all these themes into one service, one sermon on the Thursday before Easter Sunday. Or, a pastor might delete one and focus on the other(s). But has the message then been lost or reduced? Even the original Four Gospel writers seem challenged. Only John places foot-washing and the giving of the Mandatum (Old English "maunde") -- "Love one another, just as I have loved you" -- in the context of the night Jesus was betrayed. And John's Communion service is reported in a completely different context (John 6). Matthew, Mark, and Luke all focus on the Holy Communion inauguration that critical night. So, I suppose one could focus on one, two, or three of the events and still be faithful to the diverse witness of the Gospels. Thank God, Jesus could keep them all together, even if we are not sure how!


The British painter, Ford Madox Brown, included most of the story in his work: Jesus Washing Peter's Feet at the Last Supper, circa 1865. But I am still not sure if "love" is there. The disciples look sad or confused to me. (Graphic from Tate Gallery, London)

For the third year, Dallas hosted an AFI film festival (www.afidallas.com). So far this year, I have only attended a movie called "Skin." The film set in apartheid-era (and after) South Africa relates the story of Sandra Laing, born of two "White" parents who is "Black" in appearance, when race was all important. Her parents had her legally declared "White" but the society judged by appearance. An engaging film, "Skin" journeys fully into sadness and disappointment with glimmers of joy and hope. It is worth seeing if it gets a US distributor.
I particularly appreciated the Q&A afterword where the actress playing the mother in the story, Alice Krige (a South African, perhaps better known as the Borg Queen of Star Trek), spoke about race relations in current day South Africa. She spoke about hope for the future of the whole nation, if only partially realized in the story of Sandra Laing. The hope was present because of the deep ability of the Africans to forgive the past, to accept the possibility of reconciliation. If that is possible for a nation, maybe we individuals can share it as well.

Bosch: Creation, Fall, Hell -- a New York City view

Well, even on a short vacation, I am doing "Church-y" things. Last weekend Sylvia and I went to New York City to visit her best friend. Beautiful views were seen and a wonderful time was had. On Friday night we attended an off-Broadway play, "The Garden of Earthly Delights," based on the painting of the same name by Hieronymous Bosch about 1500.
In this triptych, Bosch gives the viewer a sense of the Creation, Fall, and Hell, though some critics argue about the middle theme. Anyway, the play attempted to deal with the themes on stage -- a brave undertaking. I was impressed by the staging, but am still wondering about the message. I felt like the director or perhaps playwright were trying to do this without God! Is this the modern theater? On the other hand, interestingly, hell was depicted eerily parallel to the chaos that preceded the creation of Adam and Eve. That is truly worth pondering -- is "hell" not merely the repository of Satan and evil or even separation from God, but in fact, separation from the creative intention of God??? I will chew on that.

Lutheran Comic Book Heroes! ? ! ? !

Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law for passing on this extremely helpful site, if one wants to know the religious affiliation of your favorite comic book character -- http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html .
I am torn about the Lutherans: Superman's Jimmy Olsen seems to be the only faithful one! The others are mixed -- a Danish Lutheran -Atlantean? and a couple of probably lapsed guys. Maybe we Lutherans should advocate for more inclusion. Martin Luther himself was depicted as a superhero almost 500 years ago (see Luther as Hercules, courtesy of Holbein in 1523). For those readers and viewers centuries ago, the mythic stories were personalized in the struggles of Luther and those viewers/readers identified with Luther's frustration with the status quo, his "outsider" character, his challenge to the powers and the way things are just accepted. Right there is a great comic book copy AND the foundation of a great religious insight set!

Gotcha! Right between the eyes.

Ash Wednesday continues to flood through the Lenten Season. I shared a bit of my Ash Wednesday meditation when our area pastors convened on Tuesday. I latched on to that old-time shoot 'em term for real death -- "I got them right between the eyes." That is exactly where God gets us on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent! That sign of the cross (right between the eyes!) which we might celebrate at a new Christian's Baptism is the same cross that marks our death -- the cross that is marked on the coffin as it is prepared for burial. That cross is both for life and death and ........ new life! So, I will embrace my cross for Lent and pray the Lord who marked me with the cross will embrace me for that new life.

Juror No. 2283 -- Released!

Yesterday, I answered the summons to jury duty from Dallas County. At this point in life, I go when called because I am fairly certain I will not be selected from the jury pool. I want to do my civic duty, but generally I hope I will not get placed. Perhaps, I am just protective of my personal time. But I also think I am a bit uncertain about Christians sitting in judgment over others. It is wrapped in the encouragement of the Two Kingdoms idea of Luther as well as a corollary of the "in the world but not of the world" from the New Testament. Christians can live responsibly as citizens but act carefully as well. The temptation to decide according to my prejudices can sway the desire to decide justly. Despite my fretting, I was not chosen as I suspected. But that sitting in judgment over others remains a temptation even outside the courtroom.

And the Winner Is ...

Monday evening a local theater, the Magnolia, hosted a pre-Oscar event with a panel of three syndicated movie critics, plus drawings for movie-related goodies, and a tasty chocolate Oscar-shaped candy. I did not win a prize, but I do not think that colored my evaluation of the evening. I will comment on Oscar picks after the Sunday evening event. (Check the Oscar nominees here.) For now, I keeping thinking of the comment by all the critics as they shared their opinions of which nominees should win versus which would win. They shared the political, friendship, and monetary influences on the selection of winners. I do wonder how the world would be different if the should-win did win, instead of settling for the influenced picks -- not just for the Oscars but at work, in relationships, and community decisions. I know, sin is in the world, but we could at least hope for and work for incremental changes. Therefore, I want everyone to push for my favorite movie picks, so they will announce: "And the winner is ...."

Happy 100th Birthday,
Millicent Dahlsten Johnston!
On Saturday, I was privileged to join a large crowd celebrating the 100th Birthday of Millicent Johnston, our congregation's oldest member. She beat the anticipation of the Psalmist: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalm 90:10) And she has seen changes. In 1909, her parents paid perhaps $3 for her baby bed, her first dress probably cost about 0.50, three condensed milk tins went for 0.25, and her parents could split a sirloin steak for 0.16 a pound. Things have changed indeed. But Millicent supposedly has not changed from her flapper days until now -- sweet, loyal, kind, and a faithful Christian. On Tuesday (her actual birthday), I brought Holy Communion to her, and she joyfully invited a neighbor as well, thanking God for the privilege of life and the gift of faith. Thanks, Millicent, for your witness!

To fly

In the College Assembly (Chapel) time at Paul Quinn College, the speaker was Rev. Frederick Haynes III. He is the dynamic leader of a congregation of over 8000 in South Dallas. He is an amazing speaker, captivating the attention of the students in attendance. Towards the end of his sermon, he developed a kind of rhythmic highpoint -- "Rosa Parks sat, so Martin Luther King, Jr. could march, so Jessie Jackson could run, so that Barack Obama could win," and then he addressed the students directly: "so you could fly!" What a wonderful message for the students, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college. Yet, Pr. Haynes also tried to point out parallels in the Christian life. Christ came, served, healed, taught, died, and rose, so that we could .... May people of faith find the motivation indeed to fly with the Gospel.

Dallas Theater Center "In the Beginning"

Late last week I attended the Dallas Theater Center's production of "In the Beginning," a rather experimental look at the first ten chapters of Genesis. (Basically they covered creation, the temptation/fall, Cain/Abel, and Noah.) It was an interesting staging (particularly good use of the movable floor at the DTC). At the end, the cast interviews a "professional" Bible/theology-type person and takes questions/responses from the audiences. I had gone to watch, not interact, so I was not prepared to participate that night. But I have thought since a bit about it, and am sharing with this Blog.
1) Go see the play! (It runs through February 15.)
2) The actors focused on what the ten chapters tell us about God. Certainly there is much to that. However, I think they missed the greater point. I think of those chapters being "family stories" for the family of faith. That is they tell us about the human condition and human response to God. And like "family stories" they do not tell us everything, but they tell us past experiences to tell us about our present. So, all that is to say, I wished they had said more about the human desire to be a god (temptation/fall), the human desire to let competition ruin "brotherly" relationships (Cain/Abel), and answering the call of God, even when it seems disconnected from experience (Noah). By the way, a young person in the audience really did a nice job on pointing out the competition aspect of Cain and Abel. Bravo!
3) As I said above, go see it. I would love to know your response!

John Updike - Longing for Lutheranism?

A great American Novelist died yesterday, John Updike. I have enjoyed many of his works, particularly the "Rabbit" series. The protagonist is "Rabbit" Angstrom. OK, so Updike does kind of hit you over the head with the character's unimportance. The pastor of his youth was the German Pastor Kruppenbach. And how do you resolve the military Germany (Krupp) with the artistic (Bach)? Anyway, aside from the names, I followed "Rabbit"'s angst (Quit it!) through the subsequent novels. I was struck by the longing of Rabbit for the certainty of the Pennsylvania Lutheran faith of his youth. For Updike, it seems, the modern person abandons faith as prerequisite for realism, but then longs for something, for the assurance and hope that has also been abandoned. In "Rabbit Is Rich" (I think.), Rabbit listens to the church bells on Sunday, and you can almost feel his desire to go across the street and reenter that childhood faith. I think Updike was on to something there. How many people share that longing for something outside their pursuit of success, wealth, personal fulfillment? How can they cross the street and reenter the world of the holy?

Messy Wax Build-up!

I have been rearranging office furniture as part of my settling in process. I decided to move the massive office desk closer to another wall, only to discover it did not want to move. Yes, it is heavy, but mostly the desk was stuck, embedded in floor wax build-up that almost glued it in place. I shoved and shoved, and finally the desk broke free. But after it was moved, I discovered a perfect outline of the desk still on the floor. After my diligent razor blade work removed much of the ancient wax, I left the balance to the office clean-up crew. And then I covered up what they left with a rug.
I have to admit, my pastor mind wondered how many things in my life are like that stuck desk. I have important things in place that get stuck because they have not been moved around, thought about, or reevaluated. I may not get rid of the desk, but I dare not just leave it in place because it has been that way so long. Here early in the new year it is a good time to reevaluate where things are in my life and perhaps shove them around a bit for fresher, renewed use.

"On this day ..." Obama's Inauguration

Early in President Obama's Inaugural Address, one phrase that caught my attention was: "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." These are such hopeful words for the nation, a nation many declare divided, a nation many experience as economically declining. The historian in me likens his words to the memorable phrases of Franklin Roosevelt, the cynic in me wonders about the promises of politicians, the faithful person in me indeed hopes for unity and peace for our nation and God's created world. And we can continue to have hope as the Bible found its way in the Invocation, Benediction (wasn't that engaging), Swearing-In, and the Inaugural Address itself.
And by the way, those aren't bad words for Sunday morning worship: "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

Hosting Mount Vernon Music

We were honored to host Mount Vernon Music last night for a concert of Beethoven and Brahms music performed by Steven Harlos (piano), Mark Miller (violin), Ute Miller (viola), and Carol Harlos (cello). What a beautiful way to end the day! Mount Vernon Music also provides professional concerts for residents of nursing homes, senior centers, and schools-- reaching out to adults and kids of all ages. What talented musicians, what a meaningful outreach! I hope we can have them back for another concert soon.

Installed

It's official! I've been installed as Pastor of First United Lutheran Church in Dallas, TX. Come visit! For more info, look here! More Pastor postings to come soon...