Inauguration Weekend

I enjoy watching the inaugurations of presidents. I enjoy watching the funerals as well. The careful ceremony, the details, the seriousness are impressive. I was happy with a couple of others things as well. First of all, that the inaugural address was short! Only 16 minutes. Say what you have to say and sit down. Excellent. Just don't like it when presidents drone on and on for 45 minutes or more.

Second, the inaugural parade was . . . a real parade! I just hate the Thanksgiving Day parades on television now, both from New York and from Philadelphia. They're not parades anymore - all they show are the production pieces, the singing and dancing, and you don't really get to see much of the real parade. Well, this was a parade. A real one. Bands playing and marching by. I liked that.

Third, the prayers at the inauguration were overtly Christian. (Except for the Jewish rabbi, who, of course, wasn't.) But of the others (three at the beginning and two others at the end) none tip-toed around praying to the FATHER (and offending feminists) nor praying in JESUS name (and offending other religions). Refreshing.

However, that good was quite undone with the abomination called a prayer service at the National Cathedral this morning. Represented were six or seven religions and I don't know how many Christian denominations. Below is a list of the participants:

• Carlyle Begay – Navajo Nation
• Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington – Episcopal Church
• James B. Magness, Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries – Episcopal Church
• Randall Marshall Hollerith, Dean, Washington National Cathedral – Episcopal Church
• Cantor Mikhail Manevich – Washington Hebrew Congregation
• Rabbi Fred Raskind – Temple Bet Yam, St. Augustine Florida
• Alveda King – Pastoral associate, Priests for Life, Atlanta, Georgia
• Harry Jackson – Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Maryland
• Narayanachar L. Dialakote – Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, Lanham, Maryland
• D. Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Imam Mohamed Magid – All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, Sterling, Virginia
• Sajid Tarar – Baltimore, Maryland
• Greg Laurie – Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California
• Jack Graham – Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas
• His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
• Rosemarie Logan Duncan, Canon of Worship, Washington National Cathedral – Episcopal Church
• David Jeremiah – Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, California
• Ronnie Floyd – Cross Church, Springdale, Arkansas
• David Swanson – First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida
• Jesse Singh – Chairman of the Board of Sikh Associations of Baltimore, Maryland
• Ian McIlraith – Soka Gakkai International - USA, Los Angeles, California
• Anthony Vance – National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States
• Cissie Graham Lynch – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Ramiro Pena – Christ the King Baptist Church, Waco, Texas
• Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. – Roman Catholic Church
• Darrell Scott – New Spirit Revival Center, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

It just doesn't do anyone any good to pretend we're all the same and all praying to the same God. The plain and simple fact is that we're not. These different religions and denominations are different for a reason - because they believe and teach different things! Contradictory things. And those difference matter. This is not just a list of different motivational speakers (although that's sometimes all people think religion is), these are people who all claim to be speaking an eternal truth. And I'm sorry, they're not all correct. If Baha'ism is correct, then the others are wrong. If Islam is the truth, then Christianity is a lie. The best way to "coexist" is not to pretend we're all the same, but to understand that we're not and talk to each other on that basis.

So, we'll see what happens now, when the crowds empty out. How will Mr. Trump be as a president? I am hopeful. He (as all presidents) is in my prayers. To the only one, true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Just to be clear :-)

You Must . . . But Can't

So I get a letter from my accountant telling me that we're required to file IRS form 1095-B this year to be in compliance with Obamacare. Sigh. Fine. Whatever. More paperwork. I go to the IRS web site but guess what? They do not have a non-draft 1095-B available! There is a draft version, but they also very clearly tell you in large capital letters NOT to file that form. So, I am required to file a form that is not available. Great. Thanks for the bang up job, IRS! (How hard do they have to make this?)

PS Can we get this thing repealed soon? Thanks.

Stupid Quote of the Day

From the Associated Press:

The Shahada translates as "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his messenger." It is considered the first of Islam's five pillars of faith, and is similar to the Lord's Prayer in Christianity.

First, get the translation right. "No god but God" - really?
Second, similar to the Lord's Prayer? You're kidding me, right?

No.

Abortion as Moral Good

There is a well known dictum that states that error first seeks only to be tolerated, then to be accepted and given equal footing with the truth, and then to dominate the truth and become the "new normal." Think about the rapid progress that homosexuality has made following this path. Abortion has been much slower but, make no mistake about it, is following the same path.

In case you doubt, there is a new book out, reviewed quite glowingly in the Washington Post this week, which contains the following quote from the book:

It is long past time, [the author] argues, for abortion to be cast as a social good. "We need to see abortion as an urgent practical decision that is just as moral as the decision to have a child - indeed, sometimes more moral," she writes. "Abortion is part of being a mother and of caring for children, because part of caring for children is knowing when it's not a good idea to bring them into the world." (Emphases mine)

Huh? So now the long held pro-choice mantra that we want abortion that is safe, legal, and rare is out the window. Now, abortion is good - in fact, it is sometimes more moral than having a child. Killing your baby is part of mothering and caring. Really? Someone tell the Oxford people because that definition of mothering is not in my dictionary!

So, the evil of abortion is now cast as good, and the good of life is now cast as evil. Does that sound familiar to any of you Lutherans out there? Luther talked this way when defining the theology of the cross versus the theology of glory, saying: A theology of glory calls good evil and evil good; the theology of the cross calls a thing what it is. The theology of glory is you trying to save yourself; you as decider of good and evil; you as your own god. And you'll always get it wrong; you'll think good is evil and evil is good. The theology of cross is to be saved by Christ crucified; He is the decider of good and evil; He is the only true God. And He always gets it right.

Now, having said all that, the author does bring up one good point:

If you really think abortion is murder, how can you carve out exceptions?

Yes! The default political escape clause: "I'm personally against abortion but don't want to impose my beliefs on others," or "I'm against abortion except in cases of rape and incest" are arguments that may sound good, but are correctly seen as weak and capitulating by those who support abortion as a right. If we really believe what we say, we need to stand firm.

Now, I have not read the book - only the review. But from the review, the arguments seem largely anecdotal, from "abortion is 4,000 years old and we didn't always condemn women who sought one" [who's "we"?], to the story of one woman who had to go to Sweden to kill her baby [how inconvenient], to the horror stories of botched abortions [those are sad but hardly justifications], to some religious organizations supporting abortion is some circumstances [sad again, capitulating to the culture], to abortion opponents as political hacks seeking to oppress women. Ah, this last one seems to ring true as the real purpose and agenda for the book.

I feel badly for women who have been deceived to think of abortion as an answer or as a moral good. I feel even worse for those who have had to endure hacks who botched their abortions or have been the victims of rape or incest. These things certainly should not be. But cut through all this clutter and the issue is quite clear: it is not good, moral, or mothering to kill your child, inside the womb or outside of it. Children are precious gifts and the longer we go on thinking they are ours to do with whatever we want, our world and society will continue to slouch toward greater and greater evil all the while whistling a joyful song thinking that we are becoming more and more advanced and great. This book is but the first salvo in that direction. I expect more will be forthcoming.

Why I Don't Trust the Dealer

So I have a recall repair for my Toyota van. I take it to the dealer and figure while it is there, I will have them look at something else as well. The switch that controls the power side view mirrors fell back into the dashboard. So I ask them to pull it out and give me an estimate to remount it. They tell me they cannot remount it - something is broken and they will need to buy a whole new switch at a cost of approximately $200. Well, just leave it hanging outside the dash, I said. At least I can use it that way. They still changed me $35 for that!

So another week or so later, I take the van in to my usual mechanic for an oil change and for him to check something else out. When I go back at the end of the day to pick it up, lo and behold, even though I did not ask him to do it, the switch is remounted in the dash! And for no charge. So, that is why I do not trust anything my Toyota dealer says to me. Sad.

Ash Wednesday Surprise

Imagine arriving for the Divine Service on Ash Wednesday and finding . . .

. . . part of the chancel gone

. . . new carpeting cut and lying loosely about

. . . new lighting being installed

. . . construction stuff lying around

. . . dust and dirt everywhere

. . . and a workman who upon questioning says: "Oh, didn't they call you?"

AAHHHHHHHH! NO THEY DIDN'T!

And people wonder why I have gray hair.

Yes, this is the one of the joys of not having our own building to meet in. The Adventists from whom we rent space decided to renovate their church and did not tell us.

Now, you might be asking, don't you have a contract? Yes, yes we do. It says we pay a certain amount on money for use of the building on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. And yes, last night was Wednesday evening. Our night. We pay for it. Why were they there? Why did they even think they could be there, tear the place apart, and just give us a phone call the day before and we could just up and move our service? Why?



(crickets)



Sadly, this is not even the first time they've done this to us. If we had another location we could rent for anywhere near the same price (which still isn't cheap, but everything else in this area is really expensive!) we'd move. But for now, we're kind of stuck.

So we have to suck it up.

But it would be so nice . . . so nice to just be able to go to church on a Sunday morning or a midweek service and not have to set everything up, and not have to wonder: what surprises await us today?

Sigh.

Fortunately, we arrived early enough to make do, clean up, and set up for church. It was hectic and tight for time, but we did it. And the workman was very nice and helped us as well.

But this is where God has put me, to preach to these people and give them His gifts. To labor under this burden of church-homelessness. So here I stay. And the people are wonderful! I wouldn't trade them for the world. Just wish we could afford our own place.

Someday. Maybe. Someday.

A Open Letter on the Term "Homophobia"

Can we please stop labelling everyone who disagrees with homosexuality and who does not accept, embrace, and encourage it as “homophobic?” Just because someone has convictions against something or does not believe in something does not make them “phobic.” I happen also to think abortion is wrong, but that does not make me “abortiophobic.” I don’t believe in unicorns, but that does not make me “unicornphobic.” But you know what? I can still be friends with people who have had abortions and believe in unicorns!

Didn't we used to be a people that could disagree about things and discuss them civilly? But that no longer seems to be the case. I believe something, you believe something different. You can disagree with me. That’s fine. Why vilify one another? Why not discuss it? Have a conversation about it? Instead, the label “homophobic” is slapped on. All that does is shut down and avoid any dialogue that could happen. It is a way of saying “I’m right and you’re wrong. I’m not afraid and you are. Case closed. Change!”

Are there some people who are really, in the true meaning of the word, homophobic? I’m sure there are. But most of us aren’t. We just believe something differently than you. So can we please stop the castigating of anyone who says anything you happen to disagree with?

Note to Publishers

To: All publishing houses
re: Solicitation calls the week before Christmas and Easter

Gentlemen and Gentleladies,

I know you mean well, and perhaps the week before Christmas and the week before Easter is the best time to catch pastors in their studies, but please know that this is NOT the best time to call me and ask me to buy Vacation Bible School materials! I am NOT thinking about these things now, have a lot to do, and really don't want to chat with you and hear how great your stuff is right now. I really don't. And this is really not helping your cause. When you call at such time, you make me LESS want to buy from you, even if I really want what you are selling.

So please, stop. Please wait until after the high Holy Days. Thank you.

Really?

No kidding . . . seen on NBC Sports web site:

Cheating material?

A website poll shows married women would rather have an affair with Eli Manning than Tom Brady.

Really? Why ask such a question? Have we degenerated that far?

No.

Well, its appears that in yesterday's playoff game, Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards. So guess what appeared on the Fox Sports web page? 316 . . . 3:16, as in John 3:16! Uh, no. Please. There is no divine significance whatsoever in the number of yards TT threw for yesterday. Stop it.

Customer Service?

So I'm on the phone with WebEx this morning . . . all morning, or so it seemed. Actually, it was only 2.5 hours. (Isn't that long enough?) I tried to help them understand that their service was having a problem, since neither me, nor those who were attending Morning Prayer on the Web this morning could connect the audio-video feeds.

Now, since I am in Springfield, VA, and the others were in West Virginia and about 30 minutes south of me, AND since I had this problem last week (which was a service problem with them), AND since I've been using WebEx for about 6 months now with this computer and operating system and browser, AND since nothing has changed . . . you'd think WebEx might realize that the problem was NOT with MY computer!! But noooooo, I had to endure hours of less than well-trained support people (who I'm sure were named "Peggy") go through their manual and make me jump through all kinds of hoops that I KNEW weren't going to work! Grrrrrrr.

So 2.5 hours later, still not working, they tell me to call Verizon and see if they're the problem. Right. Really? That's the best you can do? So I call Verizon. Guess what? They're not the problem! Well, I do a few other things (including checking out GoToMeeting as a possible replacement), but since I've wasted enough time and will now not be prepared for Bible Study (which is happening soon!), I depart.

Well, about an hour later I get an e-mail from them . . . and guess what it contains? The words (and I quote): YOU WERE RIGHT. One of their servers was down, which is why me and the folks out here couldn't connect. Gee, go figure. Someone knew what they were talkin' about!

Please WebEx, next time, listen. And if you work in customer service and support, listen. Sometimes the guy on the other end isn't a complete moron and might even know what he's talking about.

Rant off.

Thanks for listening.

Disappointing

Well, just got back to the hotel from our morning conference session. We have the afternoon off to do whatever. I will be doing homework. :-( Some good conversation today, but the opening devotion was most disappointing. No mention of Jesus. Not one. No sin, no forgiveness. Just generic "God will get you through it and has plans for you" stuff. What you could hear from any run-of-the-mill protestant church. Sigh. Am looking forward to the Divine Service tonight and receiving the body and blood of the Lord.

I'm Not Making This Up

The Gulf Coast Synod of the ELCA actually brought to the floor and debated (don't know how long) a resolution to ask the NFL to schedule its kick-off times at 2 pm EST so the games do not interfere with church services. And the winner of the Floor Committee with the dopiest resolution is . . .

And in a strange turn of events (an eruption of common sense!), the resolution failed. Geesh - if you're going to spend time on it, might as well pass the thing. How else will the work of the church get done? . . . What? That's not the work of the church?

Sigh. kyrie eleison.

HT: Forum Letter

Note to Telemarketers

If you call my church during Holy Week, I will not buy anything from you, ever.

Snow Rant

Yes, its time for another rant!

Why, O why, do people decide to shovel their snow into the street? Oh, I know - because its easier. But you know what? When the plow doesn't come, then it simply blocks the street for everyone. My cars both have low ground clearance, and so it would be difficult for me to get out anyway, but with these mounds dotting my street, I'll simply get stuck. Argh!

On a lighter note . . . saw this "cancellation" notice on the TV last night, from a local church (name not given to protect the guilty): "Classes cancelled, all services cancelled, Super Bowl Party pending." (!)

Rant

I have been a subscriber to XM satellite radio for several years now. I like their service, especially when I am traveling, but I must say that their merger with Sirius has killed them. Their prices have gone up, their service has gone down, several channels are not as good as they used to be, and (I just found out today) that if I want to listen online now, I will have to pay an additional $3 per month. No way. I wish they would go back to the way they were.