America - the Not-So-Innocent

This is a tough thought for Americans to consider ... from the get-go, America has been driven by a superiority attitude (we're better than England and all those "other countries," and we can do no wrong, even as we're eradicating Native Americans and their buffalo), a sense that we're a godly nation (and anyone who opposes us opposes god), all of which blinds us to the more complex nature of our story, a story like that of any other nation - driven by self-interest and an adolescent desire to be innocent, blaming our ills on others, and hungry for oil.

The Christian Left overheard: Thousands died on September 11, 2001. As a result of the US response, hundreds of thousands have died. Who will stand up for them in the midst of all the patriotic posturing this weekend? - Jason Barr

Learning from Other Faith Traditions

A friend of mine, a rather serious young man, quite devoted to Jesus, has been attending a Buddhist Temple lately, learning and growing in that place.

I wrote to him and said: there's much to learn, and the more we learn, the more we grow into the love and mystery of God. Sooner or later, whatever tradition into which we were born, becomes the primary choice, because God is at work in all of them. But history and cultural background play a big role. Yet to learn from other traditions always helps our faith remain faith rather than ideology.

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There was a time when Christian pulpits proclaimed the absolute rightness of the Christian Faith and the total error of everything and everyone else.

It was possible to do so because Christians lived far away and apart from much of the world, but these days, it's highly likely that our neighbors are Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish or Hindu, and maybe even atheist.

Blanket condemnations no longer work, because the world is now a colleague at work, and the children of the world go to school with our children.

And we have learned far too much about the errors of the Christian Church to ever again suggest that Christianity is pure and good.

So we are learning to take our place in the family of God - a great humility at the heart of renewal.

And that can only be good for the world!

May 22, 2011 - Pastor's Prayer

Calvary Presbyterian Church, Hawthorne, CA

Great God Almighty,

Creator of the Heavens and the Earth,

You have been our dwelling place throughout the ages.

Before the world was cast by your word, your love for us was already established … your grace already at work …

From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

Your Word anchors the universe.

Your light shines in deepest space and in the tiniest of creatures.

You number the hairs of our head.

A sparrow falling to the ground catches your attention.

You are at work in all things.

In all things for good.

It is right and good, O God, for us to be here today.

To hear the words of Jesus.

To think and pray.

To sing and celebrate.

To enlarge our understanding.

To know you better.

To love you all the more.

We pray, O God, for our world.

We pray for the leaders of the nations.

For parliaments and legislatures and judges.

We pray for peace.

We pray for your blessing on women and men of good faith.

Those who dare to see a new world, and strive for it.

Those who refuse to believe the gospels of violence and power and nationalism.

And believe, instead, in the Prince of Peace, and walk with him on the pathways of humility, kindness and justice.

We pray for President Obama and his family.

We pray for governor Brown and for mayor Guidi.

We pray for all those who take up the burdens of government.

And we pray for the citizens of America.

Deliver our nation, we pray, from the sins of nationalism and pride.

Deliver us from the sins of greed and wealth.

Deliver us from the sins that divide one against another.

Deliver us from the sins that impoverish many and enrich the few.

Deliver us from the sins that shut minds and harden hearts.

Bless Calvary Presbyterian Church, we pray.

Bless us, that we might be a blessing to our neighborhood, our community, our world.

Bless us, that we might have the light of Christ in our hearts and minds.

Bless us, that we might be the salt of the earth, a joyful witness to your work and your wisdom.

Bless us, we pray, that we might do your will on earth as it is in heaven.

Watch over us, we pray, in the remains of the day.

Breathe into us anew the Holy Spirit.

Use us, we pray.

And send us forth from this place with a fresh sense of hope, because you are at work in all things, in all things for good.

And to you, O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all praise, honor and glory.

In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven … 

Southern Religion - Some Unpleasant Observations

Having lived and pastored in W.Va and in Ok, I'm well aware of the "violent pulpit" - the cajoling, the threatening, the hellfire and brimstone, the laws and the punishments.


 It enters into the air folks breath and the water they drink ... along with the lack of unions and good pay, the terrible racism that still plagues so many areas, poor public education, too many private schools, and home-schooling, a love of the military and guns, too many young girls having too many children (no birth control and no abortion), a male sexual ethic out of whack and subservient women, a god-controls-all-things mentality that shrinks human responsibility, a punishing god who's going to kill the enemy and send 'em all packing to hell, forever; and a religion that's all about being saved, baptized and going to heaven, with a god who killed his own son for the sake of something good. Sorry to go on and on, but Southern religion is, for me, mostly a dysfunction.


This note was written into some questions raised about a recent assessment of the most violent states in America - click HERE to read.

The Ideal Husband??? - hee hee ...

The Ideal Husband to His Wife

WE'VE lived for forty years, dear wife,

  And walked together side by side,

And you to-day are just as dear

  As when you were my bride.

I've tried to make life glad for you,

  One long, sweet honeymoon of joy,

A dream of marital content,

  Without the least alloy.

I've smoothed all boulders from our path,

  That we in peace might toil along,

By always hastening to admit

  That I was right and you were wrong.

No mad diversity of creed

  Has ever sundered me from thee;

For I permit you evermore

  To borrow your ideas of me.

And thus it is, through weal or woe,

  Our love forevermore endures;

For I permit that you should take

  My views and creeds, and make them yours.

And thus I let you have my way,

  And thus in peace we toil along,

For I am willing to admit

  That I am right and you are wrong.

And when our matrimonial skiff

  Strikes snags in love's meandering stream,

I lift our shallop from the rocks,

  And float as in a placid dream.

And well I know our marriage bliss

  While life shall last will never cease;

For I shall always let thee do,

  In generous love, just what I please.

Peace comes, and discord flies away,

  Love's bright day follows hatred's night;

For I am ready to admit

  That you are wrong and I am right.

Sam Walter Foss

Sam Walter Foss (June 19, 1858 - February 26, 1911) was a librarian and whose works included The House by the Side of the Road and The Coming American.

Do I need to say, the above is a delightful tongue-in-cheek description of the "ideal" husband ... but I suspect some guys might miss the point.

D is shaking her head right now ... she does that a lot with me.

Rottweilers, Love and God

From my friend, Stephanie Schatz – all the dogs noted in her note are Rottweilers …

Stephanie writes:

Thanks for taking the time to explain and reassure me that God has a special place for all his creation. Personally I also believe that God created a special companion animal just for man … sorry kitties.   

Historically there has been no other animal on earth that has worked for man in so many capacities, comforted, showed extraordinary forgiveness, and even forfeited their life for their human. As the saying goes … the only love you can buy is a dog.

The moment this came clearest for me was when I was volunteering with "Mallory," Bryce's predecessor, at Ronald McDonald House. We were there to entertain the healthy siblings of the children being treated at the hospital. 

We were on the patio where Mallory was very engaged in tug of rope against 3 determined little boys. The automatic double doors opened and a quadriplegic girl appeared in what looked like a space age wheelchair that she could operate with one finger.   Mallory dropped the rope and ran to greet her and lick that one hand operating the chair. I was amazed!  

Then she ran back got the rope and took it to the girl and my heart sunk, until Mallory draped the rope over the girl's hand, sat in place with the rope in her mouth moved her head slowly from side to side, added a playful growl and "pretended" to played tug with this little girl on her level.  

I was no longer amazed … I was in awe as I realized that I was witnessing something divine ... something that came from a higher level than dogs supposedly have access to.    

I never taught Mallory this 'behavior' and we we're never in a situation like this before or after. This wasn't a circus trick it was an independent act on her part of love and compassion and we know that those traits are Godly.  

I'm certain Mallory is in a special place and I'm 100% sure that we will be together again one day. It means a lot to know that I am not theologically alone in my views.

And BTW … if Mallory had not passed exactly when she did I would not have Chad, and if Chad had not gotten sick ... I would not have Bryce. Coincidence? I don't think so. Can't wait to see who God has lined up for me next!!  

My thanks to Stephanie for this remarkable story. We’d all do well to pay a little more attention the animals around us. They have hearts, too, and love.

And Stephanie’s right – there is no other species who has befriended humankind as have dogs. Simply because we feed them? No. They know that we need them!

January 30, 2011 - Prayers of the People

Eternal God, always good, always faithful, always hopeful, always true …

We lift our praises to you.

Grateful for our lives.

Because it’s good to be here.

To be alive in Christ, to know Christ, to serve him to the best of our ability.

To join with him in building a better world.

To let the light shine.

To give peace a chance.

To heal the wounds of the soul.

To challenge the idolatries of religion and its love of temples.

To challenge the ideologies of nationalism and its love of power.

To speak the truth of the gospel.

To walk with Christ.

To take his yoke upon us and learn from him.

Your ways, O God, the ways of the kingdom.

We pray today for our schools.

For our city council.

For our mayor.

And our governor.

We pray for our state.

We pray for our legislators and our judges.

We thank you for our natural resources.

The high Sierras and their stored vistas …

The crashing surf of the Pacific …

We pray for the women and men who farm … who raise and harvest our lettuce and radishes and dates and tomatoes and avocados and oranges and cucumbers and carrots.

We pray, O God, that we will have your eyes …

To see your world as you do.

To look upon one another with grace.

To bestow dignity upon the least of these …

To speak words of hope and encouragement …

To lift up and never put down.

To speak the truth in love, LORD, because, we’ve learned the hard way, a thousand times over, where there is no love, there is no truth either.

Bless us we pray in the remains of the day.

Watch over our loved ones and guide our steps.

Rest your Spirit upon Pastor Cathy Chisholm as she makes her move from Texas to California, to become our pastor. Bless her family and friends, and fill her with your joy.

We are ready, LORD.

We are eager.

We are yours.

In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven …