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.