Wednesday, April 22, 2015

"Shorter History of Western Civilization" by Robert Lax, 1962


Egyptians
Babylonians
Persians

Egyptians
Babylonians
Persians

Jews & 
Greeks

Jews & 
Greeks

Egyptians
Babylonians
Persians

Egyptians
Babylonians
Persians

Jews &
Greeks

Jews & 
Greeks

Christians
Christians
Christians

Christians
Christians
Christians

Christians
Christians
Christians

       rah
       rah
       rah

Saturday, April 18, 2015

I Love Words ...

I love words, and have loved them since my
English Prof back in 1966 challenged me (that's
Another story).
Words are my friend and my enemy.
They welcome and defy me.
Sometimes compliant; sometimes defiant.
They fall into place, sometimes.
Sometimes, like getting blood out of a
Turnip.
Words continue to amaze me.
So many words.
Many I rarely use.
I keep wrestling with them. And,
They with me.
Never a clear winner.
But always the delight.
Of a hard fought
Fight.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Chalk Screeching on a Blackboard.

Children, these days, are
Denied the "pleasure" of
Hearing chalk screech on a blackboard.

A sound that
Sets teeth on edge, and
Sends a chill through the body.

I had such a moment this morning.
Reading Psalm 47.
Which begins well enough:

"Clap your hands ...
Shout for joy ...
The LORD is awesome."

I was all set to clap and
Shout
Until ...

"He has subdued peoples
Under us ..
Under our feet."

"Scrrrreeeeech."
My teeth clinched.
My heart soured.

Written by someone
Standing on the mountain of victory.
Written with the chalk of death.

Someone who saw God in the blood.
In the violence.
In the victory.

How different the Psalms
Written when all was lost in
Exile.

Harps hung up.
No singing.
No joy.

But that's another story.

This morning.
My mind hurt.
With sadness.

Sadness for "all those peoples."
Oh sure, they were heathen.
Right?

They had no right to "our land."
It's all about national security.
The LORD is awesome.

In the minds of some,
Who Cotton to things like this.
Let the bombs fall.

Let there be death and violence.
Plenty of it.
Plenty to go around.

We're on top of the mountain.
Our little pile of bones.
Our junk yard of shell casings.

The LORD is awesome.
Subduing folks beneath our feet.
Crushing them like egg shells.

Discarded after Easter.
When we all shouted,
"The LORD is awesome."

"Scrrrreeeeech."

Friday, April 3, 2015

Good Friday

It's Good Friday ... strange term for an ugly day.
When Rome said to Jesus:
"No more of this young man."
"To your room, and there'll be no supper for you."

Rome was the top dog.
Its version the story.
Raise a question? "I wouldn't if I were  you."
"Cross us, and we'll cross you."

Some Christians, when Empire looked good to them,
Said: "Jesus died for our sins."
Now, here was an idea Empire could dig.
An idea that really worked, for the sake of Empire.

"We may be bad," but we're forgiven."
Jesus died for our sins, right?
All is good.
So, let's get on it with it.

Empire in Jesus' name.
Blood and guts spilled by the ton.
Slavery, torture and death.
All in Jesus' name.

Wow ... what a pack of lies.
What a terrible day.
When the church looked at Friday,

and called it Good!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Prayer Is a Very Odd Thing

Prayer is a very odd thing.
Delicate as a desert flower.
But sturdy like a desert plant.

"I don't know," is often my prayer.
"Jesus my LORD" is often my prayer.
In not knowing, trust.

Prayer is a very odd thing.