"When Schools Flourish, All Things Flourish"

Schools started this week in our area. On our church's drive-by sign, I posted the message: "When Schools Flourish, All Things Flourish -- Martin Luther". It is a good reminder that many of the things we take for granted today had to be started somewhere. Luther was one of the earliest to argue for town-supported schools that would be available for all children. Yes, ALL CHILDREN -- Luther even thought girls should attend. That was an even more radical idea for the time. As parents drive by the church building headed to the local school houses, we are not asking that they stop to express a word of thanks, rather we are just inviting folks to a fellowship that continues not to take the status quo for granted, but find new ways to be faithful to God in response to changing community needs.

"Get Low" with a Lutheran twist.

Robert Duvall continues to be amazing. And Bill Murray pulls surprise after surprise. These guys are good, and the rest of the cast does very well -- especially the "sincere young man"/driver and Sissy Spacek.

The first two-thirds of the movie was fabulous -- what a script. Then the last third just kind of played out with little surprise or insight. I suppose that is why it is a "small film" not a blockbuster.

The Christianity portrayed was realistic -- the sincere minister (Gerald McRaney) shared the religious truth as he saw it and played poker with the community leaders! The older minister did not let the Duvall character escape from the truth, but still showed up in support.

Go see this film!

A note that I was unaware of until the September 2010 "The Lutheran" magazine, p. 10: "Family stories of Elizabeth C. Birkholz, a pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta, Ga., formed the basis of Get Low, starring Robert Duvall as Felix "Bush" Breazeale, a Tennessee man who held a funeral for himself in 1938 while he was still alive .... Birkholz's great-grandfather, Frank Quinn, was the funeral home director, and her grandfather, Frank "Buddy" Robinson, drove the hearse. The movie was co-written by Birkholz's husband, Scott J. Seeke, pastor of The River Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Ga. Birkholz and her family were extras in the film.

Eat Pray Love -- Sounds Good! But ...

Eat Pray Love -- Sounds like my life plan. I do eat too much, as food is one of my favorite things! And "pray"? Well, I am in the preacher business -- prayer comes up frequently, and I do much of it. Love? I Corinthians states that "Faith, Hope, and Love abide, but the greatest of these is Love." And Jesus himself is connected more times to love than faith or hope in the four Gospels. (Love -- 58 times, Faith -- 33, and Hope only 3!) So, Love is definitely a key word, goal, and blessing for Christians.

But ... This movie that is out right now with Julia Roberts called "Eat Pray Love" leaves much to be desired in my view. The eating is Italian, which has disappointed me in my few journeys to that country recently. The love is probably the strongest part of the movie, but depends on the pray and that is where I find the greatest weakness. OK, maybe I am prejudiced because the pray is in a Hindu context. I do not understand the new Hollywood fascination with Hinduism (after previous brushes with Buddhism, Kabbalah, Scientology, ...). Why is it that so few take Christianity seriously? Most seem to react to childhood experience or a caricature or I guess what gets covered in the media as "Christianity": big, noisy, conservative, and restrictive. Why don't stars go to a regular Sunday morning service at a regular parish -- try my classmate (Pr. Tony Auer) in Pasadena.

Beyond my parochialism, why not try real Christianity? I found the religious message "Pray" shallow. The main message seemed to be -- worship until you can forgive yourself. First of all that message comes across so selfish in this film. Secondly, I couldn't help but think of the monk Martin Luther prior to the Reformation -- sincere, dedicated, cleaning the floor, but finding no release. I think Luther was right -- the answer cannot come from ourselves and our efforts; it must come from outside of us, from God, when we hear "for you" -- the cross, forgiveness, Holy Communion, new life.

But hey, I liked Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile; maybe that is because my daughter is in that film!

3 generations of Vardell men in a field jacket

In his 20's, my father wore this coat when he left the Marine Corps after the Korean War. He decided not to make the USMC a career, and he had no desire to return to driving another man's tractor while he plowed another man's field. So, the coat went with him to college, which led to his career in the food industry.

I wore the coat to college at a time of protest of another Asian war. And then in my early 20's, I took it northward to keep me warm while I attended seminary in Minnesota and began my service in the church.

This past week, my son discovered the same field jacket; so, in his early 20's and in his last years' of college, he is the third Vardell male wearing it -- to keep him warm on his bicycle, as he journeys into his future.

May the field jacket protect him, and may God stay with all the wearers!

AGORA -- is it too open?

AGORA -- is it too open?

The "agora" was the open meeting place/trade place of the Greeks. This movie, entitled "Agora," explores that concept of "openness" (I think) as the Greek world was being eclipsed by the Christian / Roman in the late fourth century in Alexandria. I generally like toga and sandal epics, so I hoped for much from the film. I was generally disappointed. Initially, the rise of Christianity was handled in a fairly balanced way. And in the story, the Christians did not start the attacks on other religions. But very quickly the Christians emerge as dominant and begin severe persecutions -- ultimately crushing free scientific inquiry. (At least, I think that was the point of the movie. I must admit, I thought things entangled as the film moved to a conclusion. Is it a story about freedom? Is it about religious toleration? Is it a love story? Is it a story of mature friendships? Is it a criticism of the church becoming involved in government? Is it all these? If so, it needed to be longer, and it was already too long.) Besides, the predominance of Christianity had already been legislated for the Roman Empire almost two generations previously by Constantine. As usual, Rachel Weisz is amazing, but a better epic could have been made.

8.9.10

8.9.10 -- Today's date: a reminder of the regularity that creeps into our chaotic lives, and a reminder that the chaos is starting to clear enough that I should get more regular with this Blog again!
1) "Summertime, and the living is easy" -- that song was NOT true this year. Sylvia's mother has been in the hospital or an assistance center for three months. We had planned on a week stay, starting back in April when she entered the hospital. So, the change in plans necessitated by the prolonged stay has certainly changed the Summer. It was not easy.
But, ...
2) She is out! Recovery continues at home and we need to get used to that rhythm. Lots of home health care workers come and go, but Ingrid (my mother-in-law) keeps the schedule straight, so things can return to a new normal.
3) Thank God for modern medical care! And pray God continue to watch over my Uncle Ramon who entered an Oklahoma hospital shortly after Ingrid, and he has basically the same complications. He is now recovering in Oklahoma City, and is headed for his own three month stay. (Word to the wise: ask your doctor to avoid nicking the bowel, when operating on the abdomen area. It greatly complicates life!)

"Don't nobody know my troubles but God."

Sunday afternoon, Sylvia and I attended a play/musical called "Black Pearl Sings" at the Watertower Theater in Addison.
This was probably their best play of a rich season of offerings. I was captivated by the 1930's Texas and New York City settings, and the themes of a musicologist capturing songs for future generations. "Black Pearl," a paroled Texas convict, is the singer who reaches back through time for songs of the African-American experience in the Americas and before. I was particularly captivated by an early song, "Don't nobody know my troubles but God." The soulful, blues tune accompanied by periodic stomping of the feet spoke volumes of the experience of oppression.
I am worried that we don't have such experiences any longer. I am not asking for oppression, but sometimes the relative success/excess we enjoy in 21st century America seems to drive persons further from God. One would perhaps think that blessings would drive one to seek the Blesser, but more often the reality seems to be that suffering drives one to seek the Comforter. I would pray that all life, bane and blessing and in between, would send us to the one God in charge of it all.

Clothing Exchange Event at First United

On Saturday, June 5, we did not celebrate the D-Day Landing of 1944 early, but the Clothing Landing at First United Lutheran Church in Dallas! The Clothing Exchange (check this out: http://www.theclothingexchange.com/) is an official Green Event, which encourages folks to pass on outgrown and no longer needed clothes to others AT NO CHARGE! At First United, a local community volunteer (Meredith) organized everything, as she has done this for years. We members of the church served cookies and lemonade and orange slices and good cheer to the overheated "shoppers." Persons come in with bags of unwanted clothing and get the same number of bags to fill from others' discards (which the volunteers have carefully categorized). What wonderful Stewardship, caring for resources responsibly, plus helping out the community. As Meredith pointed out, it is also a kind of "loaves and fishes" event because there are always many bags of left over clothing that go to shelters and other non-profits for their use. Thanks "The Clothing Exchange" for letting us host! Watch for a late-Summer/early-Fall Back-to-School event.

Margaret Luttrell - Lutheran History in Action!

Margaret Luttrell stopped by this afternoon to check out our History Hallway. (More details in later posts.) The 1925 Dallas newspaper photo caught her eye BECAUSE SHE WAS IN IT!

There she is at age 8, meeting for Saturday Bible story time. She shared her memories of early activity in the church and early Dallas life. Welcome, Margaret! Come back and see us again!

Russell Times 2 -- Russell Vardell, Russell Brand 5/19/2010

Russell Brand (not really much like me -- have you seen a guy with thinner legs?) was on David Letterman tonight. He claimed his long, uncontrolled hair restricted him to trying out for acting roles of either a homeless man or Jesus. Dave asked if he had tried out often for Jesus. Russell's curious response -- his whole life has been a try-out for Jesus. Interesting faith comment from an odd, but talented actor. As a Lutheran, I might want to tell him that all the trying will end in frustration, then I would invite him to trust in God's love for him.
But as a Christian looking for faith affirmations in the public square, I will say "Thanks, Russell, for the plug for Jesus!"