Clericeric

Moth on the screen

The past six weeks have been somewhat chaotic as we packed the house, moved and I changed jobs. Chaos is to be expected at such times. We chose to make it more so. N & I decided to keep Em on her swim team in Florence through the summer season. They just got a terrific new coach back in May and all the kids are swimming better. Em is also at the top of her age bracket, which makes things more fun for her, too. The plan is to get her on a nearby team for the fall season.

The swim plan means that N & Em are driving here (to Fayette) for weekends and then back to Florence during the week. Some of the meets have been on weekends, too. So the normal chaos is ratcheted up a few notches. I've missed my girls, a lot! All in all, we are glad to support our daughter in her sport, and for the chance to spend more time with her friends before settling in here. The season will be officially over after the ARPA State Meet this weekend in Cullman. Wahoo!

This morning I woke up to an unusual sight - a whole slew of moths on the outside of the sunroom windows. Three big-uns, and a variety of smaller ones. Are any of you faithful readers into lepidopterology? Here are three pictures. I don't know anything about moths, except that they fly toward light. Last night I left the back porch light on. I'm going to try that again and see what we get tomorrow. 

Click on the images for a bigger view. The one on the right was the biggest with about 5-6 inch wingspan. The middle picture looked like a leaf stuck on the screen. Weird! You win the "smart-person-award" if you can identify their common names. I'll post more pics if we get some other varieties.

  

 

 

 

 

Can I join the chorus of voices praying, "please God, send us a cold front. Or a dry front. Or tickets to Canada, eh?" It's so humid all the time that I've got mold growing behind my ears. Not really, but ugh.

To post, or not to post...

Hello reader(s). It has been long enough since my last update that there may only be one of you left (mom or wife?). Things have been pretty busy, but that’s not a great excuse. Blog posts are best when life is busy and there is something to actually talk about, no?

We moved on June 15 to Fayette, AL where I am now serving as pastor with the fantastic people of First UMC. What a great church! Our first Sunday went very well. It was exciting to see all of the new faces. They seemed curious and excited to see what they’d gotten themselves into with this new pastor!

More will come later about the move, our missing dog (Katie), swimming, camp, church, sermons, and bike rides. Today I’ll publish what I started to write 3 weeks ago, and just finished.

I had some slight misgivings about being faithful lately. By faithful I mean, speaking up on an issue. Since I call myself a disciple, *every* aspect of my life is (should be) held up to scrutiny by the One I follow. Every behavior, action or thought is (should be) a tiny picture of how I imagine Jesus might bring grace and life - what to buy, how to give/spend/save money, what to drive, how to entertain, when to act or not, how to vote, who to help, how to love... everything. Since I call myself a leader I should lead.

But when I was invited to sign an open letter to the governor and legislators expressing how a new law is theologically offensive, alarm bells went off in my head. I wanted to sign the letter - to lend my voice and support - but how will my new church-folk take it? Do I really want to annoy some people even before I get there? No, I don’t want to annoy anyone, but I do want to be a faithful witness to what I think Jesus would have me say/do. Hopefully, even if someone disagrees with the issue they can appreciate that I am trying to be faithful.

Let me say, I agree that the US and Alabama must have effective laws regarding borders and immigration. However, the way we go about enforcing our borders should not fly in the face of who we claim to be; a Christian nation. This bill, HB56, is written in a mean-spirited way. It is as if there is a neighborhood competition for having the best disciplined children, and the Alabama legistlative parents have said “let’s make them suffer,” thinking their cruelty will win points with their neighbors.

The issue is House Bill 56 (you can read it here). The open letter I signed can be found here.

We do need effective immigration law. But this bill flies in the face of what the Bible says is an appropriate way to treat one another. Some of the blblical instructions regarding aliens are...

From Leviticus 19:33-34 - When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 22:21 - You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Malachi 3:5 - Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in their wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me.

Deuteronomy 27:19 - Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan and the widow of justice.”

Zechariah 7:9 - Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.

Ezekiel 47:22 - “You shall allot (some of the land) as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who reside among you and have begotten children among you. They shall be to you as citizens of Israel; with you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

Matthew 25:35 - For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

Jim Evans in EthicsDaily.com writes, “The point I am making is simply this: Any group of people who claim to be a Christian majority, as is the case in Alabama, should not be celebrating the adoption of the harshest and most comprehensive anti-immigration law in the country – not in the light of these biblical memories of oppression.

“We should do one of two things – give up our claim to being a Christian majority, or adjust our ethics to conform to biblical teaching on the matter. We cannot have it both ways.

He’s got a point. eb

Even Amid the Devestation; Christ is Risen!

From Bishop Willimon's weekly message:

The Second Week of Eastertide will long be remembered by us as the time of terribly deadly storms that ravaged Alabama. We have lost over a dozen of our churches, a number of parsonages, the homes of many of our people, and worst of all, the lives of many sisters and brothers. We are heartbroken.

In times like these God gives us the opportunity to rediscover the redemptive work of God in Jesus Christ. By God's grace, we believe we shall look back on the next few weeks as a time when -- even admid our tragedy -- we experienced the presence and power of the Risen Christ. Our loss is huge, but we may find that the gifts of God are greater even than our loss. Still, Light shines.

Over the past harrowing forty-eight hours, I've been proud of our churches and our pastors as they move into prayer and into action -- Matt Lacey's teams have shown the wisdom of hours of training and preparation for such a time as this. The North Alabama Conference has had all too much exposure to natural disaster. We have developed one of the most extensive and well prepared network of staging areas, disaster response teams, equipment facilities and trained people who are able to respond in force. Through UMCOR and our connectional giving, we have not waited until disaster struck. We are connected, organized, and in action in Christ's name. Over the last forty-eight hours, the Cabinet and I have been engaged with our churches and pastors who were hit. Methodists from all over the country have been sending messages of concern and will receive funds to help us. I've heard from pastors in North Carolina, Maryland., Indiana, and Washington who will be receiving offerings for us on Sunday. Even in the storm, our connection is testifying to our faith in God's ability to redeem even this. We are not alone!

We shall build back our devestated churches. We shall stick with our ravaged communities. We shall offer funds and hands-on-work for those in need. We gave over half a milliion dollars to help with Katrina relief and days and days of work. We shall do even more now that disaster has come our way.

And we shall claim all Wesleyan good work as visible proof.that, even in the storm, even amid the loss, "Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!"

I'll be in our hard hit Southwest District this weekend, and will preach at our Forrest Lake Church (even without electricity and badly damaged, Forrest Lake has taken in those who need shelter). We shall pray, shall receive a special offering for the victims, and we shall testify to our faith in a God who keeps coming back to bless us, to raise us up, and to be with us.

Will Willimon

via www.northalabamaumc.org

100 Miles of Nowhere, 4th ed.

The Fat Cyclist is a hoot. Anybody who would nickname himself "fatty" (when he's absolutely not) is going to be an interesting character. I mention Fatty because he has organized the 4th Annual 100 Miles of Nowhere. It is a fun and strange way to raise money for Livestrong. We are going to hold a “local edition” of the ride at Edgemont UMC.

It costs $85, which is a lot for me to pay to ride in an organized event, but you get a ton of great stuff and get to contribute to helping folks with cancer through Livestrong. You will want to sign up soon since they are only sending out schwag boxes to the first 500. I did this ride last year and was impressed with the great stuff.

Update: I didn't get any takers. I'm still doing the ride, and you can come and jeer, as long as you give me money. :)  We are going to ride laps around Edgemont (and neighborhood if we can get some intersections blocked off). The really fun part is that in addition to riders, we will have a cheering section of friends at the church, eating, drinking and making fun of us each time we come around. For the right to jeer and mock, they too, will contribute to the cause!

Please pass this on to other cyclists you know. Sign up. And tell your friends and family to come out for hotdogs and hamburgers on Saturday, May 28th at Edgemont UMC. It will be a really good time. Let me know that you will come out and have a great time with me! Post questions to me here in the comments.

To sign up, go over to Twin Six — this page if you’re a man, or this page if you’re a woman — and pick the size of T-shirt you want, then pay the $85 registration. For Fatty's full explanation of the ride details, check out his blog post.

Rollin’
Eric

Who cares about what?

"Republicans look after the money and Democrats look after the people," I read yesterday. It's a simplistic way to look at things, but works pretty well if you are speaking in generalities. And it is a shame. The polemic conversation seems is just as rancorous as it was 2-3 years ago. How does one choose whom to support when you have to pick between the stupid or the greedy?

We need neither. Instead we need wise generosity -- what Amos or Micah might call Justice. For the Republicans to care only about money is immoral, while for the Democrats to care only about people is irresponsible. And the political posturing in the lead up to the next election is insanity.

There is a radical swing to the right in our country. On the right and left the most radical voices, the most bombastic people, get to drive the conversation. Why? Because they captivate the largest TV audience.

What if we borrow the expression "radical center" from Adam Hamilton? The "Radical Center" is a brave place to stand. Voices from the far left and right assail. It is very hard to keep a level head when people are shouting talking points at you from both sides. The "RC" works toward creative solutions using the best ideas from all sides, instead of last-minute-hobbled-together compromises that makes everyone angry. We need some Radically Centered people who can sit down and work through things, instead of radicals who stand up and fight. The posturing, bickering, and stalling in Congress - and the whole country - must stop.

Sojourners.org have been challenging Congress to consider “What Would Jesus Cut?” Obviously they still need to hear the clarion call. Secular and religious, profit and not-for-profit leaders, are agreeing that we need a budget that is fiscally responsible AND morally acceptable. The budget process needs intervention from God. Leaders from dozens of diverse faith-based organizations started a hunger fast together. Over 30,000 people have committed to fast, pray, and act together at least through Easter.

As people of faith, we cannot allow our Congress to pass a budget that will so gravely hurt the most vulnerable in our nation, while protecting the wealthiest from any exposure. A great nation can be built on the backs of the poor and downtrodden, but not one that will last. Look now at the middle east. Remember the Roman Empire. It will require work (sacrifice? compromise? creativity?) from ALL quarters in order to get our country on the right path again.

Hate speech

Terry Jones is an idiot. That is all. Thank you. (See the last paragraph)

No, that is not all. Jones is the Florida "pastor" who threatened to burn a copy of the Quran last September. The Secretary of Defense (!) called Jones to explain why his action endangered the life of American service men and women and all Americans abroad. The POTUS (!!!) publicly urged Jones to reconsider. Every major Christian organization in the world denounced this guy. After a truly international outcry he backed off.

Stupidity on pause - Evidently, deciding that he was more wise than the rest of the world, last month Jones put the Quran on trial and found the book guilty. Its punishment? Burning. He went ahead with his stunt. Now, demonstrations against Jones hateful action have turned violent in Mazar-e Sharif. An attack on a U.N. building in the city that left 12 people killed – eight U.N. workers and four Afghans.

Back in 1987 the artist Andres Serrano caused outrage when he unveiled his photograph, "Piss Christ." Christians (myself included) were offended and wanted the artwork taken down. A pair of youths were arrested for destroying the work with a hammer. Nobody died. When "shock art" works it opens a dialog; gets us thinking and talking. Serrano was unsucessful. People could not get past the "media" he used and the was not dialog but shouting and anger.

The reaction is unfortunate but not surprising. It was recently explained to me that Muslem people hold the same regard for the Quran that Christians hold Jesus. For them, their holy book is the primary way God is revealed to the world. Therefore, the book is the source of salvation. A westerner might say, "but it's only a book!" and would hear back, "you just don't get it." What Jones did was like killing Jesus, which has already been done - but he was raised from the dead - by the Romans and the Sanhedrin. Christians used that for years as the excuse for violence against Jews. Why should we be surprised by the violent reaction now? 

Some Islamic leaders abroad have called Jones to be arrested on charges of international terrorism. That's a bit too far, but I do think he should be arrested under the hate crimes statutes. Perhaps we could put him in jail for life for killing a religious leader, since the book is equivalent to our Jesus.

I'm not supposed to call anyone an idiot. Matthew 5.21-22 reads, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So, I retract the first sentence of this blog. Please forgive me, Terry. But please read this passage with me. Insulting our brother and sisters (yes, they are) also makes you liable to the hell of fire. Stop burning things. Stop hating. Recieve the love and forgiveness of Christ and be transformed. Go forth and sin no more.

Quaking Earth and Swirling Water

Quaking earth and swirling water
Highways turned to waterfalls
Sweeping people, houses seaward
God of mercy help us all!

Walls of water rushing eastward
Leaving havoc in their wake
Sirens sounding, children crying
God of mercy help us all!

When the waters have subsided
When the earth stops shivering
Move our hearts to offer succor
God of mercy help us all.

"Quaking Earth and Swirling Water" by Safiyah Fosua

Written shortly after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. May be sung to tune  "The Servant Song," 2222, The Faith We Sing, or "Restoration," 340, United Methodist Hymnal) Copyright 2011, General Board of Discipleship. www.GBOD.org Used by permission. Viewed here.

A holy Lent

Sunday's palms are Wednesday's ashes as another Lent begins; 
thus we kneel before our Maker in contrition for our sins. 
We have marred baptismal pledges, in rebellion gone astray; 
now, returning, seek forgiveness; grant us pardon, God, this day! 
We have failed to love our neighbors, their offenses to forgive, 
have not listened to their troubles, nor have cared just how they live, 
we are jealous, proud, impatient, loving overmuch our things; 
may the yielding of our failings be our Lenten offerings. 
We are hasty to judge others, blind to proof of human need; 
and our lack of understanding demonstrates our inner greed; 
we have wasted earth's resources; want and suffering we've ignored; 
come and cleanse us, then restore us; make new hearts within us, Lord!

(Rae E. Whitney, 1991)

I saw this poem on Bill Brunson's FB and wanted to share it. What do you think? Does it speak to your heart? How would you express the same idea to God? 

Lent has always been a time to turn our attention to all that has been done for us on the cross in Christ. This lavish gift can be meditated on year after year, and still would leave us to wonder in amazement. One of the best ways to get into Lent, and to prepare yourself for a really joyous Easter, is to read through the biblical narrative leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. If you've ever had trouble staying on track reading your devotions, I have two guided Bible studies to recommend from the YouVersion website. 

First, sign up for a free account. Then go to their reading plans (or click here).  

Lent for Everyone - 53 days (here)
Lent for Everyone is a devotional created and written by N.T. Wright. For each day of Lent, there is a reading chosen from the Gospel of Matthew, plus a reflection by Wright. This plan includes readings for Sundays.

40 Days of Lent - 40 days (obviously) (here)
Through this reading plan, you will walk through the gospel accounts in chronological order, tracing the steps of Jesus during his last week of his earthly ministry. This plan is 47 days in length. The seven Sundays are days of rest with no reading.

May you have a holy Lent!

Why worry? With accompaniment.

I have been wrestling with Jesus' words about worry. He says I shouldn't. Great. Here is another near impossible challenge for me. I worry about problems. If I'm not worrying over the problem then I'm usually to be found procrastinating or avoiding them altogether (techniques I neither recommend nor find effective). What to do?

Prayer. It helps hen I can remember to convert worry into prayer. Sometimes. And it helps when I remember Alan Storey's definitiion of righteousness - "righteousness is doing the right thing in the right way for the right reason right now regardless of the consequences." That usually gives me the right kind of encouragement.

What follows here is a wonderful conversation between you (or me) and Jesus, written by Rev. McKenzie. The rest of the her excellent article can be read on her blog, Edgy Exegesis.

But first, a little music while you read.

Dire Straits, Why Worry from the album Brothers in Arms, plus...

LosLobos-DontWorryBaby

TheLikeYoung-WorryaLot

A Dialogue Between You and Jesus

Stage Notes: You are present at the Sermon on the Mount and feel emboldened to interrupt Jesus as he attempts to teach. It goes something like this:

Jesus: "You cannot serve God and wealth" (Mt. 6:24b).

You: Why not?

Jesus: "Because no one can serve two masters. A slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other" (6:24a).

You: I don't know if I agree with that or not. It seems overstated.

Jesus: "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear."

You: Seriously? Isn't your advice a little naïve? I do need to plan ahead and know where my next meal is coming from and make sure my family is clothed.

Jesus: "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

You: Yes, when you put it that way, but . . .

Jesus: "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (6:26)

You: Yes, but . . .

Jesus: "Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" (6:27)

You: No, I guess not, but . . .

Jesus: And why do you worry about clothing?

You: Well, because I need to be appropriately dressed for various occasions and at least try to be somewhat up to date.

Jesus: "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these" (6:29).

You: Why do you keep making these nature analogies? Those are flowers. I'm a person.

Jesus: "If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith?" (6:30)

You: It would be nice to think so, but don't you think worry serves a useful function sometimes?

Jesus: "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'" (6:31)

You: All right. I get that you're not going to budge on the worry issue. But tell me this: what am I to do with all that mental free time I used to spend worrying?

Jesus: "Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (6:33).

Jesus used the wrong questioning technique if he wanted to live a long time.

What is righteousness to you?

Last week I was listening to the Jan. 30^th podcast from Central Methodist Mission in Cape Town, South Africa. Rev. Alan Storey asked and answered the question "what is righteousness?". He gave a compelling answer that has been rolling around in my mind ever since. "Righteousness is doing the right thing in the right way for the right reason right now regardless of the consequences." 

Is this a good definition?
What do you think?
How would you define
‘righteousness?’

Over breakfast with our prayer group the next morning we talked it over and thought it was OK up to the "consequences clause." The "right now" gave us some pause, too. The more we thought about it that definition seems a bit too hard core. Can't we stick with "righteous = being right w/God"? That's a lot easier to imagine yourself doing, or at least attempting to do.

Then we thought about Jesus saying "whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (3 times in Matthew).  And then "“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mt7)

Tom sent me an email today. He was mulling over the question, too. He writes, "Our Old Testament reading Sunday was from Micah. I thought the ending line was straight forward direction as to how to lead a righteous life- "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God."

That's one of my favorite passages, too. But living the Micah passage can be pretty demanding. DOing justice can put you in the crosshairs of powers-that-be pretty quickly. Loving kindness sounds good, and is pretty easy until I remember how easy it is to love expediency more. Kindness takes time to appreciate. Walking humbly is not easy. Even if we don't have an overlarge sense of self-worth.

There probably are good definitions expressed more gently. In my opinion, Storey gives a very good definition of righteousness stated in the strongest terms. Each phrase keeps the others from being reckless to the point of poor stewardship. I recall MLK Jr.'s words "justice delayed is justice denied" and the strident tone makes sense, especially when you remember that Storey grew up under the shaddow of one of the most unjust and oppressive governments in the last half of the 20th C. -- South Africa during apartheit.

But golly... it's a demanding definition.

Is this a good definition? What do you think? How would you define ‘righteousness?’

The Key to Bluesrock

May I take just a brief moment to say that The Black Keys totally rock!!! Maybe I'm late to the party and everybody already knew about this groovy bluesrock band... but hey, somebody shoulda' told me! A few of their tunes were on my radar - some have been used in commercials and tv shows - but these guys are not just a funky flashinthepan. They have seven albums. This evening Fresh Air was streaming an interview with the Keys and played a couple of songs. Checked them out on Amazon when I got home and had a hard time deciding which album to get. In the end I settled on the newest, Brothers.

It's almost hard to call them a "band," since they are just two guys - vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. A few of the songs have a touch of Hammond B3 in the background, but their funky sound stands up well with just the twosome. They avoid the pitfalls of other blues bands that can sound like an overly cluttered racket, or painfully overproduced dead-head wannabees. 

Give a listen to "I'm Not the One." You might recognize "Tighten Up" from a Subaru ad.

ImNotTheOne

TightenUp

On another note, you might remember me inviting ya'll to see Drivin' n Cryin with me in Nashville. They are a bluesy/alt/rock band. Well, I didn't get to go to the show, but let me share two of their best tunes (imo) with you - "Scared but Smarter" and "Gotta Move On".

ScarredButSmarter

GottaMoveOn

Enjoy!

Civility

"So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us."

- John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, January 20, 1961 (read on Sojomail)

Ginsberg quote

I love this...

...except that someone just let me know that Ginsberg is dead...

"This week we saw a white, Catholic, Republican judge murdered on his way to greet a Jewish, Democratic congresswoman, who was his friend. Her life was saved initially by a Mexican-American gay college student, and eventually by a Korean-American combat surgeon. Then it was all eulogized by our African-American president. In a tragic event, that's a remarkable statement about the country."  ~Allen Ginsberg

Does anyone know the correct attribution?

-----

Thanks are due Carol Gullatt and Emily Rhodes who tracked down the source. As it turns out, PBS commentator Mark Shields quoted his friend Allen Ginsberg. Just not "The" Allen Ginsberg. Here is the full transcript.

Even if it isn't "THE" Ginsberg, it's still a great quote.

Xmas & xetc

Yesterday I briefly alluded to the controversial practice of writing "Xmas" instead of "Christmas." My friend Steve has a nice take on the question, and I just stumbled accross an article on the UMC's General Board of Discipleship website penned by Dean McIntyre. It describes the historical use of Chi in more depth. You can read it below, or here on their website. Enjoy!

Xmas -- is it an abbreviation for Christmas or part of a conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas?

Some people see the X in Xmas as a way of crossing out Christ. Some see it as one more tool of those who wish to secularize Christmas. The use of Xmas as an abbreviation by retailers is cited as evidence of the commercialization of Christmas. And still others point out that X is often used as a symbol for something unknown, as in "the X-factor" or the unknown quantity in a mathematical equation.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word Christmas comes from the eleventh-century Old English Christes mæsse and the Middle English Christemasse. Cristes comes from the Greek Christos and mæsse comes from the Latin missa, the word for the Roman Catholic service of the Mass. The X in Xmas is the Greek letter X, or chi, and it is the first letter of Χριστός, the Greek spelling of Christ. X has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the fifteenth century, and Xmas has been used as an abbreviation for Christ Mass or Christmas ever since.

More recently, in the eighteenth and nineteenh centuries, Xmas has been used for Christmas in the writings of Lord Byron, Samuel Coleridge, Lewis Carroll, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. And even more recently, of course, it has been used in advertising, by greeting card designers, in merchants' store fronts, on Christmas tree lots, and most recently, on Facebook, Twitter, and in text messaging that limits the number of characters available to users. A personal note: I frequently use X and Xmas, mostly in e-mail, notes for myself, marginal notes in a book, and outlines. I use X for Christ, Xian, Xianity, and certainly Xmas.

The New York Times, BBC, and other style guides prohibit the use of Xmas, despite its honorable origins and past use. It is still perceived by some Christians, opportunistic politicians, and media personalities as part of a "war on Christmas." It is not used in the church press, religious educational material, or worship resources, and never in hymns and songs.

"I heard the bells on Xmas Day . . ."
"Love came down at Xmas. . ."
"Sing we now of Xmas. . ."
"We hear the Xmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. . ."
"I saw three ships come sailing in on Xmas Day. . ."
". . .and God sent us salvation that blessed Xmas morn."

and

"I'm dreaming of a white Xmas. . ."
"Then one foggy Xmas Day. . ."
"On the first day of Xmas my true love gave to me. . ."
"We wish you a Merry Xmas. . ."
"Have yourself a merry little Xmas. . ."
"It's beginning to look a lot like Xmas. . ."

Xmas will not replace Christmas in the near future, nor is anyone calling for it to do so. Even for those who understand its past origin and use and who may use it in texting and on Twitter, use of Christmas will continue. But perhaps it is time for those shouting about the use of Xmas in our culture to lower their voices.

Copyright General Board of Discipleship. www.GBOD.org Used by permission.

Ages

It has been ages since I last posted here. My motivation for sharing my thoughts kind of got shot down for a while, and then I was out of the habit. This feels right, though, and I'll try to stay in the groove.

We finally got the tree up and decorated yesterday. The lights and smells lift my spirits and I feel in the Christmas mood now. I've just started shopping but have spent a good bit of time thinking about what to do for special folks. (Of course, you're all special...)

Sometimes we get a bit of a break around Xmas (No, it's not x-ing out Christ. See here. Thanks, Steve.) But this year, not so much. Xmas eve is Friday, and we'll have a wonderful couple of services at 5 and 7pm. Saturday will be spent with family in Huntspatch, but then it's back to work/worship on Sunday. Not complaining, just noticing. I'm sure we will have some relaxin' in the next few days.

I hope that you will experience joy in the knowledge that God continues to come to us, even in the midst of our darkest bleckh: depression, dis-ease, sin, brokenness, grief and loneliness. Christ, the light of the world, shines into our darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. In the mean time, we wait in hope. Come, o come, Emmanuel.

Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce

Gotta love the Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce... so good, I re-posted this from last year. (thanks Susan)

amazing quote

Saw this amazing quote on Susan's Facebook page and wanted to share...    

"You were born to be holy. This is not a burden, not a duty, a command or an obligation, not a threat or a trap. It is a gift. Let it be a wonder, ...a mystery to ponder, so that in your hands it becomes a gift, and you join the great choir singing the magnificence of this life and ...the One who gives it." ~Stephen Garnaas-Holmes

I am now on a quest for more of his writings! Thank you, Susan.

An athiest's hymn for all you fans of barbershop harmony

I just love Steve Martin. Love, love, love. You can watch his Athiest's Hymn here. Go ahead. Hit the link. It's really worth it.

Change, progress and conflict

BOOK REVIEW

David R. Brubaker, Promise and Peril: Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations by Alban, 2009. Reviewed by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. in Leading Ideas, the free online newsletter of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary and available at www.churchleadership.com. This article is reprinted by permission.

David Brubaker tackles the conundrum churches face: Change usually leads to conflict, but change is required to make progress. Drawing upon research with congregations over five years, Brubaker found that about 10 percent of churches each year face conflict serious enough that a special meeting has to be called to address the matter or outside help has to be engaged. What he learned does not solve the dilemma about change and conflict, but his research does make it more understandable.

The two issues he found most likely to cause conflict are a change in the governance system and a change in worship. A church making one of these changes is 3.3 times more likely to experience major conflict than churches not making the change. If a church takes on both of these in the same year, the church is seven times more likely to have conflict. Churches that are growing rapidly are more likely to have conflict than stable churches, but the churches with the highest rates of conflict are those declining rapidly.

Some changes to worship that can trigger conflict are changing the style of worship, dropping a service, or adding a service. It might seem strange that adding a service would lead to conflict, but often “the social integrity of the group is threatened” by such a move. All this is true across various sizes of churches. Brubaker captures the tension when he says that congregations “that adapt their worship services—especially by adding a new worship service—are indeed at a higher risk of conflict. But congregations that fail to adapt to a changing environment may be at much greater risk.”

So if change is essential for progress, how can change be handled in such a way as to minimize destructive conflict that often leads to changes in leadership and members leaving? Brubaker found it of particular interest that one major change generally does not cause conflict – building projects. While there are exceptions, for the most part churches have learned well over the years some basic steps to take in embarking on a building project that help people get on board with the change. When you consider the care with which such a project is begun—listening sessions, information sharing, timelines, question sessions, etc.—one can immediately see how casually we often undertake other major efforts in the church, including changes in worship. Brubaker finds two concepts from Paul in I Corinthians that we all might use in implementing change—orderliness and love. Working carefully on the plan with a great deal of openness and transparency, along with a never failing attitude of love for all involved, just might permit change that builds up the body of Christ.

I love how he talks...

Saw this quote today on whyismarko and thought "whoa - that's timely." Plus, I just adore how Walter Brueggemann talks.

Mature personhood does not come by pilgrimages of continuity, but by abrasion, disruption, and discontinuity which shatter our grasp of things and make us, at key points, not the initiators but the recipients of gifts and surprises that we often do not want to receive.

You can find the book here. It isn't going to be an easy read. But it'll blow your mind if you take the time.

Encouragement in making disciples

This email came recently from our District Superintendent, Mike Stonbraker. He addresses some of the things we are trying to do here at Edgemont as we seek to "make more disciples of Jesus, to become deeply committed disciples, and to serve others as disciples."

Friends, ...

Over and over I have heard Paul Borden say that each congregation has two constituencies: those within the congregation who need to be ministered to and those outside the congregation who need to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Ministries designed for those already in the congregation exist to help mobilize them to reach the constituency outside the church’s walls, for which the congregation as a whole exists...I agree with Paul. So think about this for a moment. I feel that for our congregations to be mobilized to reach those outside the walls, it will take vision, planning, and structure.

I firmly believe that we as pastors must lead the way for the vision, the planning and the structure of our church ministry. By understanding first and foremost that our vision must center on the Great Commission, we can pick up that call of ministry (vision), and focus on our planning where we answer the question “so what?” In other words, we have heard Jesus’ words to “go and make disciples” but for those words to become active within our lives and ministries we have to answer the question “so what.” So what does this all mean to me as a pastor and a leader? Then as Shepherds of the Flock, we must take the authority to place a strong structure around answering that question. Use your staff (paid and unpaid volunteers) by training and equipping them to lead forward in outreach and witness. By using this structure the staff is then held accountable for measurable goals to be reached. You can hold individuals accountable, which you cannot do with committees. Clergy and laity working together introducing others to the Kingdom of God is a key element in creating a healthy and vibrant church. So take time in your Kingdom Work to focus on the vision, planning, and structure of your church work.

Work smartly, efficiently, and effectively. Preach like Jesus, love God’s people, and have fun. Take time away from the office and spend that time with your family. Get a pizza and eat the whole thing.

Thank you for all you do and know you are loved and prayed for.

Mike

Old Rockers

Thanks @Sherril Clontz!

A comedian doing classic rock songs as if written by the rocker's elder self, here. Pretty funny.

 

My first Handy Festival ride

Really good job, Shoals Cycling Club!

Andy Griffith helps educate, correct misconceptions

Follow? or **Follow**

Found at http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/07/twitter-disciples.html thanks to Sherril Clontz.

Irreverent, but funny. Perfect.

I started a new blog post last night, but this has got to come first. Avoid if you don't appreciate irreverent humor. Language is ok, but... well, you get it. Thanks to Dave Barnhart for the find.

How to be a Disciple

Today was the 4th of a 5 week series on the Great Commission - "Get On Your Boots: Go, Make, Baptize, Teach & Remember." In the "Teach" sermon this morning I referred to Dallas Willard's excellent book, The Divine Conspiracy, where he talks about what it means to be a disciple.

What is it that Jesus says we are to teach? "Um, Jesus... *everything* is pretty broad. Can you give us a syllabus to follow? They are going to want to know what is on the test. No? How 'bout just a hint." But he never would say.

Well, if we are to teach everything that Jesus taught us, what exactly did he teach us? Willard says Jesus taught us "how to live in the kingdom of God....I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live life if he were I. I am not necessarily learning to do everything he did, but how to do everything I do in the manner in which he did all that he did. So as Jesus invites us to follow, he also sends us to teach."

Would it be fair to say then that the thing that Jesus commands us to teach is how to invite people into life inside the Kingdom of God? Lucky we don't have to do it alone. I was so inspired by this section of the book that I wanted to share it with you. The Divine Conspiracy was excerpted in an article in the Christian Century. You can also read it online here.

How To Be a Disciple
by Dallas Willard

Being a disciple or apprentice of Jesus is a definite and obvious kind of thing. To make a mystery of it is to misunderstand it. There is no good reason why people should ever be in doubt as to whether they themselves are his students or not. And the evidence will always be quite clear as to whether any other individual is his student, though we may be in no position to collect that evidence and rarely would have any legitimate occasion to gather or use it.

Now this may seem very startling, even shocking, to many in our religious culture, where there is a long tradition of doubting, or possibly even of being unable to tell, whether or not one is a Christian. The underlying issue in that tradition has always been whether or not one was

Resources for Prayer and Action

The following prayers of confession and pardon come from The General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. To use in worship, go to their website and download a nicely formatted bulletin insert. Excellent worship resources are also available at the General Board of Discipleship. http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.3784805/k.D1A1/Worship.htm

The slow-motion tragedy of the gulf oil spill lays bare our collective failure as caretakers of God’s good creation. While unknown thousands of barrels of oil leak into the rich and diverse ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico, how are we as Christians called to respond? While it is easy to express anger and cast blame at the companies who owned, operated and profited from the deep sea exploration, we must also reflect on our own complicity through our endless demand for cheap oil.

So much remains unknown: How long will the oil flow into the gulf? How far will the oil slick spread? How damaging will the spill be to fragile wetlands and the flora and fauna in the region? How will the spreading oil slick jeopardize the future of thousands of watermen and those who depend on the Gulf for their livelihoods?

In the face of these uncertainties, we turn to the One who is certain – the One whose creative and recreating power is stronger than any of our human folly. May we heed the call of the Scriptures, humble ourselves and pray that God will forgive our sins and heal the land.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Creator God, author of life, source of all meaning, you made a universe of infinite complexity and beauty and entrusted us humans with the care of a tiny jewel called Earth.

With the passing of time we came to believe we were owners, not fellow creature dwellers, of this bountiful planet and its extravagant web of life. We have used God’s creation without regard for the impact our rapacity had on the other creatures with whom we share our earthly home. We have acted with craven disregard for complex ecosystems we barely understand. Our self-deception has led us to assume we have the capacity to manage environments we exploit to sustain lifestyles that defy the intrinsic interdependence of all life. Now we face the consequences of our idolatry. We thought we were gods; but our recklessness has brought us to our knees, to ask for your mercy and forgiveness for the chaos we have brought about. We pray for the oceans and all the creatures that dwell in it. We pray for the forests and the abundance of life they nurture. We pray for the very air we breathe, now laden with the toxic gases we produce. We pray for our children whose earthly home we have so imperiled. Loving God, have mercy on us, grant us forgiveness and the strength to make amends.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
There are no sins so great that the mercy of God cannot forgive. Go with God’s grace to make amends. Embrace lifestyles that will help restore balance and harmony to our Earthly home. Care for those whose environments have been destroyed by our actions and inactions. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God, we come to you today with heavy and humbled hearts. We ask that your healing, comforting and strengthening presence be with all those affected by this unfolding tragedy:

For workers injured, missing and presumed dead from the explosion on the rig and for their families and friends,

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers

For people working tirelessly to contain the spill and protect fragile ecosystems and communities from its toxic impacts,

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers

For individuals and communities whose livelihoods depend upon the Gulf of Mexico,

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers

For your good Creation – from the smallest of sea creatures to the birds of the air - and all your magnificent handiwork at risk of exposure from our human errors,

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers

For wisdom to understand our dependence on You and strength that we might walk humbly in the path of justice and right-relationships with all Your Creation,

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers

AMEN

Facts about the Gulf of Mexico

• The Gulf of Mexico has 1631 miles of coastline and over 16,000 miles of shoreline (including bays and inland waterways). source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Nearly ½ of all US coastal wetlands – over 5 million acres – are located along the Gulf. source: EPA
• The coastal plains of the western Gulf are used by nearly all of the migratory land bird species of the eastern US, as well as many western species. source: US Geological Survey
• From New Orleans seafood restaurants to Florida vacation rentals, the Gulf’s annual tourist industry is estimated at over $100 billion. source: USA Today
• The Gulf is home to four of the top seven fishing ports in the United States and seven of the top ten seaports. source: EPA
• The Gulf is home to an estimated 45,000 bottlenose dolphins. source: EPA
• The Gulf waters are home to 73% of the shrimp and 59% of the oysters harvested in the United States each year and a total of 1.3 billion pounds of seafood valued at over $650 million. source:

EPA Oil and Gas Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico

• ¼ of US domestic natural gas and 1/8 of US oil is extracted from the Gulf. source: Minerals Management Service (MMS)
• The offshore oil and gas industry employs 55,000 workers in the Gulf. source: EPA
• In 2006, the offshore rigs extracted 470 million barrels of oil. source: EPA
• Lease rates paid to MMS – up to $1million/day source: MMS
• Maximum fine MMS can levy for violations - $35,000 source: MMS
• Dollars spent by BP on clean up: $17.5 million/day. source: Washington Post
• BP profits (1st quarter 2010): $93 million/day and market value: $156.2 billion. source: Washington Post (May 11, 2010)
• Punitive damages for 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill: $1 billion (settled in 2009, reduced from original $5 billion). source: Washington Post
• Exxon profits ($19.42 billion in 2009, $45.2 billion in 2008). source: Fortune Our Connection to Offshore Drilling
• US petroleum consumption: 19.5 million barrels/day – 71% for transportation source: Energy Information Administration (EIA)
• Annual consumption of bottled water in the US requires the equivalent of between 32 and 54 million barrels of oil. source: Pacific Insitute
• 100 billion single-use bags – using 12 million barrels of oil – are used each year in the US. source: Worldwatch Institute Additional Resources for Reflection and Action GBCS Resources (www.umc-gbcs.org)
• Faith and Facts cards on Sustainability and Clean Water www.umc-gbcs.org/FaithFactsCards
• Clean Water www.umc-gbcs.org/cleanwater
• God's Renewed Creation hopeandaction.org NCC Resources (www.nccecojustice.org)
• Sacred Oceans and Seas (Earth Day 2005)
• Water Stewards: A Toolkit for Congregational Care of Local Watersheds

Further Information and Clean Up Efforts

• NOAA http://deepwaterhorizon.noaa.gov/
• EPA http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/
• Gulf Restoration Network www.healthygulf.org
• Clean Water Network http://www.cleanwaternetwork.org/

Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness courtesy of Rev. Mari Castellanos; Jusitce and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ and John S. Hill Director; Economic & Environmental Justice, General Board of Church and Society

I get by with a little help from my friends

Hi there. Want to do something good that is really really easy? Help a local UMC congregation win a $25k grant! - they are literally growing the Kingdom of God :)

RG Lyons is the Pastor at Community Church Without Walls in the West End part of Birmingham. I love what they are doing and you can vote for them to get a little help! Go to http://bit.ly/9mgfK5 and hit "vote." Then do the little register thing. Takes 30 seconds.

It would be appreciated. Thanks!

News from Haiti: Day 5

All I have to say is "wow." Just "wow." So I'll step aside and let God shine through Patti again...

Hello friends!

I thought I would send a quick note to you all.

Today was our last day working at our site. It was tough leaving, as you might expect.
Please keep in mind as you read that we are the first team to help with rebuilding. The groups in the past have been medical.

When we first started it was overwhelming, if I were a Haitian, I would have just given up. The sun is blazing, they have very little water, most are Infested with some type of parasite or disease, haven’t eaten well for their entire life, etc, and we are looking at tearing down and removing TONS of concrete. Did I mention removing? If so, let me mention it again. =) 

Our team started 2 hours later than the Haitians and ended again, about 2 hours before. When the heat became too much, we worked in teams. The Haitians did not. We could not keep up with them.
I will not even get into the emotional conversations that were all-consuming: People begging for any type of work, children begging for water, people wanting an education so they could help their families and country. The list goes on and on.

Anyway, all day long an earlier conversation I had with Betsy keeps popping up....we were discussing the bible story where the friends of the paralyzed man had climbed up on a building, taken off the roof, and physically lowered their friend so Jesus would heal him. 

Betsy told me then, “Sometimes people need each other.”

So here we go, I decided God wanted me to be one of the friends, and these people needed to see some type of progress--ANY type of progress, and maybe they could see that glimmer of hope through us.

Today when we left it was easy to feel we had let the people down. Here we came with our smiles and our “we will help” attitude, and then we had to leave with a wall only half way rebuilt, and children who had way too much experience with being abandoned, were left once again.

I do not do well with “planting a seed” and leaving. I want God to let me see what I have done. I want to know that I have not made things worse, and even possible helped a little.

And more than anything, I have a hard time trusting God and letting his way unfold.

Maybe that is one small reason why we are all here, I don’t know. I have prayed incessantly, and then prayed more. I have a feeling God will have some type of nick name for me that is similar to the word “gnat”. =)

Emily, your suitcase was Incredible. I was given the privilege of teaching one little boy about 6-7 how to use a crayon. I showed another how to blow bubbles, and another what to do with play do. There is, however, a man named Stan who might want to have a word or two with you about it...He had to carry It for about 12 miles, and I nick named It “the albatross.” The info about the wheels was incorrect, and next trip should include luggage with wheels. Anyway, I have a picture of one of the little boys putting shoes (some you collected) on their little feet. With any luck they will offer some type of protection.
So many other things I would love to tell you, but there is just not enough time. Darren and I both will be going thru some additional training and hope to bring teams back in several months, hopefully a few of you! We may co-sponsor a team of 8, or take two different ones, depending on the amount of people who would like to go. It will be a disaster team, and people who can do physical labor are who are needed most, and especially anyone with labor skills.

I will share my favorite quote today. When asked, “Where is the next group from/”, there was a quiet reply, “from God.”

Know I love you all, and still need your prayers. See you Sunday.

Patti

Luke 5:17-25   ¹⁷ One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.  ¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.  ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  ²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”  ²¹ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  ²² Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?  ²³ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  ²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  ²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

News from Haiti: Day 3

Patti writes again:

Subject: Hi from Haiti

Hey loved ones.

I only have a few minutes, but I'll give you a quick update.

Today we (By “we” I mean our group of 8 and 10 paid Haitian young men) finished tearing down a 12 foot concrete security wall, digging a well about 100 ft long, and hauling all of It, Including soil highly contaminated with feces.

Heat Index was between 100-104*.  Very hard physically.  I think I am here to help our team medically:  No one really understood the dangers of the situation, Help A, TB, Typhoid, the list goes on.

This is a wall that surrounds a Methodist house that takes care of 36 children, most of whom were starving before they entered. They are now taken to school and fed and kept off the childhood slave market or even worse fates.  Every building has such a wall, I am assuming to keep the starving out.

After work we went back to the orphanage and they sang us some songs to show their appreciation.

The adults here are proud, wanting, begging to work. They are reserved, but friendly.  I have NEVER< EVER seen such well behaved children.  They are all very loving and curious.

We are the first team in, so we are trying to make a good Impression. The team Is Incredible:  but then again, what else do you expect when God get Involved?

Hope you all are well, and I will see you on Sunday!!

Big love,
Patti

I’m so glad to hear from you Patti. You, Darren and the team are in my constant prayers. I know your compassion and helping nature are a shining example of the love of God there in Haiti. Keep up the good work, and stay safe.
Much love,
Eric

News from Haiti: Day 2

I got Patti's email a day after she wrote it. She tells the story well.

Hey everyone!

It’s about 5:00 In  Haiti right now, and I have just taken my malaria meds so I thought i better send a note pretty quick.

Everything is going good here, and it is a little bit more comfortable here than we anticipated.  We are staying at the Methodist House, and there are two bedrooms and about 20 beds.  We have running water (very small stream) most of the time, and electricity most of the time because we have a generator.  There is a team of several women who cook and clean, and we had chicken and rice with plantains for dinner last night.

It is not anything like what I expected.  The amount of rubble is profoundly overwhelming. On a mountainous island, it’s a big obstacle. There are still many, many people buried in the rubble, there are tents of all sizes everywhere, and the rainy season is just around the corner.

Today we worked with a team of 10 Haitian men to try to break up and move what was left of a concrete wall that surrounded an orphanage supported by the church. It was back breaking work; we only had 1 sledgehammer and one pick, and several tons of concrete to move.

The Haitians were literally begging to be able to work for some type of compensation.  The infra structure, such as it was, has been in a tail spin and there is just no work for the people.  I had one young man plead with me today to please become part of my family.  He said he only wanted to help his people, and he was helpless to do anything but watch the people he loves suffer.

On a different note, last night while sleeping I ingested my first bug thru way of my nose.  I will spare you the details, i just hope it cant crawl back up.  =)

Gotta go, my meds are working their magic!

I will try to send another note if time permits.

Sending big love to you all, and can use all the prayers you can muster!

News from Haiti Trip: Day 1

Darren and Patti, two members at Edgemont, arrived safely in Haiti last night. The are part of the very first team of United Methodist lay people to go to Haiti! UMCOR is there, of course, and other recovery experts, but Darren and Patti's team are "just" there to help. They expect to do some demolition and clean-up of destroyed structures, and rebuilding. And they expect they'll have some interaction with the kids there.

Darren posted his first impressions to Facebook. I'm reposting here, which will automatically appear on the church site, too. Pray with us for Patti and Darren as they serve the people there, that God's grace be revealed all around. 

Monday, May 3 at 9:46pm

(No spell check, so be patient :) [I cleaned it up a little bit, buddy]

Flying over I noticed that it is a beautiful country with mountains and a majestic coastline. As we descended, I saw blue tents that covered the refugee camps. We arrived in Haiti at approximately 5:00.

The airport was small, and the terminal had been damaged due to the earthquake, so we used a hanger for baggage claims and customs. The second we walked out the door, we were bombarded with people who wanted to take our bags. It was extremely intimidating. A guy with one arm finally came up to us and asked if we were going to the Methodist Guest House. He also knew how many people would be with us, so we allowed him and his crew to take our bags. It was still a little scary to try to keep up with the bags. We tipped the men for their services, and got in a small van for the trip.

Immediately I noticed the ground was covered in litter. There is no good way to deal with all the trash that has accumulated. I'm not sure if this was as bad as a problem before the earthquake, but it made an impact on me. As we rode I saw many things that surprised me. A man washed himself in a puddle on the sidewalk. I was taking his picture and he looked over and waved with a fantastic smile. He seemed happy. I saw many people selling food on the side of the street that looked amazing. I have been cautioned not to eat it unless I am told it is okay by the interpreter. There are many other thins that surprised me like the walls that lined the road that were either capped with barbed wire or glass shards.

We arrived at the Methodist Guest House approximately [---] minutes after our departure. Mike, a minister is our host here. It is not United Methodist. The guest house is part of the English Methodists. The address is Delmas 105, Rue des Freres, Impasse a Thoby #3. I'm not sure if I got it in the right order. It is in the Peschonville area of Port au Prince. Supposedly very wealthy, but you wouldn't know it. It still seems very poor. The actual house was purchased from the Swiss Ambassador approximately 12 years ago. It is extremely nice compared to everything else I saw. They told us not to drink water out of the faucet, but that is the only inconvenience that I have found.

Patti and I are truly blessed to be here. Thank you to all who have made this possible.

Darren

A prayer for Edgemont

I wrote this prayer back in January or February of this year. Since then I have tweaked it many times following conversation with others who love serving God at Edgemont. Several key leaders agreed to pray it with me.

Again and again, God proves to be faithful (not surprising, but always amazing)! I see much evidence of softened hearts. On Sunday the congregation prayed these words with me at the end of the sermon. Many commented how moved they felt. I am encouraged and calm. We are ready to move forward!

Please pray with us...

Lord, give us open hearts and willing spirits toward you and one another,
    that we might work together to become the church you envision.

Help us always be faithful to you and honest with one another,
    to speak the truth in love where we have been less than forthright.

Speak to us with clarity that we might hear your call.

Give our pastor courage to lead where you want us to go,
    and guide all of our leaders with your wisdom, that they may
    direct your church with passionate resolve – but not force.

Keep us from seeking the comfort of habit where those habits
    do not serve your mission and,

School us in the habits of the heart that lead us close to you. Amen

Vacation!!! (yay!)

Wow, this is great. *Everyone* should take a vacation. Right now, I am taking my own advice for the first time in six years. It is shocking to realize how long it has been. Fair disclosure - we have been to some lovely places since our 2004 anniversary vacation to Sedona. There have been a few occasions to use vacation time off of work; weddings to which we've traveled, and a few nice trips with family. But this is the first **real vacation** in six years. (You know what I'm talking about - family trips are great, but they just aren't "vacation.") Again, wow. What a gift!

MANY thanks to Bob & Ruth who gifted a week of their time-share to us. I've not been to PCB before, and our accommodations at the Wyndham are very nice. We've enjoyed long walks on the beach, time lying in the sun (or under the umbrella for me), splashing in the still-cool ocean, sleeping late, and reading "fun" books, instead of work stuff. We are having a terrific time.

Thanks are also due to Vanessa who loaned me her smuggled-from-England-copy of "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson. It is a terrific end to the trilogy. If you haven't already, check out the first two, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and "The Girl Who Played with Fire."Then you'll be ready for the Hornet's Nest by the time it is release in the US on May 25.

I am now reading "People of the Book," by Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. It is a fictionalized history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest Jewish religious volumes to be illuminated with images. The codex survived centuries of purges and wars thanks to people of all faiths who risked their lives to safeguard it. A complex love story, thrilling mystery, vivid history lesson, and celebration of the enduring power of ideas, People of the Book will surely be hailed as one of the best of 2008. (Mari Malcolm of Amazon.com reviews). I'd give it a recommendation based on the third of it I've read so far.

Vacations are awesome. God, restore, recreate and renew us all. Amen!

Copyright a word?

Can you copyright a word? If so, I now have the (c) on the word "eGod" by posting it on freecopyright dot com. The idea is... well, slightly offensive, honestly. But after thinking about it, it might be a good opportunity for evangelism.

The idea came from a typo I saw. Still, what do you think? Possibilities?

Feet or Bread and Wine?

A good question came to me through the intertubes via email today, and I thought I'd share. Not that my answer is particularly good, but it is fun to mull over things like this every now and then.

One of our friends asked,

"Mark says that Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover meal in the upper room, then Jesus went to the garden, and the soldiers came, and he was tried, and crucified on Friday.

John never mentions the "remember me" part of the meal Thursday night. Instead he talks about Jesus washing the disciples' feet.  And he does not refer to that meal as the Passover meal. In fact, he mentions that the priest would not enter Pilate's house so as to avoid being disqualified from eating the Passover meal, which indicates to me that the priests were planning to celebrate Passover on Friday night. What's the deal?"

An observant question. Here is my answer, duly sent back through the intertubes:

Indeed, it is a deal... John's chronology is different from the other three "synoptic" gospels for quite a few events. I explain this (to others, and myself) by saying, "John is trying to make sense of Jesus' life in a completely different cultural context which requires him to emphasize certain parts in different ways than, say, Mark does to his community."

Others have excused the difference on the fact that the Passover celebration is actually a week long affair. (Our friend) Emily said that in her family home they had two separate Seder meals - on the first and second nights of Passover. So perhaps the priests were celebrating Passover each night of the holy-days.There are other explanations, too.

I wouldn't be surprised if both the foot washing and the last supper actually happened that night. Perhaps the first three gospel writers were so embarrassed and scandalized by Jesus' behavior that they left out the foot washing. And anyway, the really big deal from their time in the upper room was the meal, so they just emphasized that. There is only so much parchment, after all. Perhaps John, on the other hand, thought the servanthood lesson was more important than the changes Jesus made in the Seder meal. Maybe he wasn't paying attention or didn't understand what Jesus was doing and never really thought much about it. Of course this is all speculation on my part. But it is fun to mull over.

What do you think caused differences in the retelling of their last night with Jesus? I'll watch the comments for your thoughts. 

Check these out:
   Judaism 101  -  www.jewfaq.org
   Gospel Parallels  -  www.utoronto.ca/religion/synopsis
      and click "The Four Cannonicals"

Time to spring forward!

You don't want to be late for church, so...

18 More Groups that have Infiltrated the Church

Lately I have held back from sharing much about what I call "faith with feet." By FwF I mean: Christians don't live in pews, but in the world. If our faith makes no difference in the world where we live it isn't much of a faith. As a follower of Jesus, God has made you a new creature, dude! (or dudette!) The Holy Spirit lives inside of you! So bear fruit worthy of this new life.

I have quoted Dave Barnhart here before. His take on Glen Beck's latest tomfoolery is full of wit. 

Since Glenn Beck keeps ranting about left-leaning Christians* who use the word “social justice” to advance their agenda, I thought I’d also point out a few other groups who have infiltrated the church, many of whom use the Bible to support their agendas:

18. White Supremacists
17. Atheists
16. Pagans
15. Right-wing Tea-party Fruitcakes
14. Pedophiles
13. New Agey Crystal-Wearing Vegans
12. Labor Unions
11. Jerks
10. Libertarians
9. Glenn Beck Listeners
8. Self-avowed, Practicing Gays and Lesbians
7. Self-avowed, Practicing Homophobes
6. Self-avowed, Practicing Evangelicals
5. Unreformed Calvinists
4. Unrepentant Arminians
3. Closet Papists
2. Sinners
1. Christians

These people are inside your church! Some of them are clergy! Scary!

——————————————————-
*He didn’t actually say "left-leaning" - he said "communist" and "Nazi." That’s part of what makes this particularly dishonest. He knows very well what he’s talking about: Christians who support healthcare reform and justice for the poor because they believe in the Biblical mandate to love their neighbor with more than superficial charity.

I really hope he keeps talking about this. The more he talks the more transparent he becomes.

Posted by Dave on 03/12 at 11:16 AM

All The Best to Henry

It only took a short couple of years for Nancy and me to fall in love with Gerald and Merrie (just a man-crush ... no funny stuff). Then in 1998 they moved off to Boston, and we really miss them. It has been waaaaay too long since we have seen the wonderful K-W family! It was a high honor when they asked us to be the god-parents of their son, Henry. We did pretty well for a while, but with time and distance and no-really-good reason we haven't been the best god-parents. But I think of Henry often and say prayers for him and his family, and remember him today on his birthday.

All the best to you, Henry. Love, Eric, Nancy and Emma Bagwell.

Hey Henry!

Hope you have a

Humungous

Happy

Birthday!

Barbara Brown Taylor, on Lent

A visit to The Text This Week website is usually the third step in my sermon writing process. In fact, it is my home page. Jenee Woodard, the curator of TTTW, offers an incredible gift to the church through her work. There is a link to make a donation, but she charges no subscription fee to peruse her extensive library of collected and organized links to hundreds of biblical study and preaching resources. Check it out here.

I mention TTTW because this week Rev. Woodard features a Barbara Brown Taylor quote that stops me cold.

"That hollowness we sometimes feel is not a sign of something gone wrong. It is the holy of holies inside of us, the uncluttered throne room of the Lord our God. Nothing on earth can fill it, but that does not stop us from trying. Whenever we start feeling too empty inside, we stick our pacifiers into our mouths and suck for all we are worth. They do not nourish us, but at least they plug the hole."

If you have heard me preach more than three times you've probably heard me reference BBT's writing. She's my favorite preacher to read. The quote is from an article in The Christian Century ("Settling for Less," February 18, 1998, page 169). You can read her whole article here, or archived at Religion Online here. But, you really want to read it.
Trust me.

Settling for Less (Luke 4:1-13)

¹Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” ⁴Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” ⁵Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” ⁹Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ ¹¹and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” ¹²Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹³When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Do not bother looking for Lent in your Bible dictionary. There was no such thing in biblical times. There is some evidence that early Christians fasted 40 hours between Good Friday and Easter, but the custom of spending 40 days in prayer and self-denial did not arise until later, when the initial rush of Christian adrenaline was over and believers had gotten very ho-hum about their faith.

When the world did not end as Jesus himself had said it would, his followers stopped expecting so much from God or from themselves. They hung a wooden cross on the wall and settled back into their more or less comfortable routines, remembering their once passionate devotion to God the way they

Top 10 reasons Ash Wednesday is better than Christmas

A preacher friend posted this list. I laughed till I nearly wet myself. Now all of his preacher friends are re-posting it. Dave, it's gone viral. You're going to be famous, man!

10. No braving the malls looking for Lent gifts
9.  No pressure to send “Merry Ash Wednesday” cards
8.  No explaining why using chi-rho isn’t “X-ing Jesus out” of Lent
7.  No dominion-ist fundagelicals trying to fight culture wars by putting “Jesus resisting temptation in the wilderness” displays on public property
6.  No celebrity holiday albums
5.  No Ash Wednesday sitcom specials
4.  No saccharine email forwards about “the true meaning” of Ash Wednesday
3.  No tacky Ash Wednesday sweaters
2.  “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” extremely difficult to use in consumer marketing strategies
1.  Nobody ever says, “Ash Wednesday is really all about the children.”

others have added:
*  No holiday letters bragging about your kids' report cards, your travels, or your promotions.
*  No Ash Wednesday tree to decorate.
*  (Actually, I think a card with some ashes in it might be nice....)

Observing Lent at Edgemont

Dear Edgemont members and friends,

This season of Epiphany (I see! or, Aha!) has been a good one at Edgemont. We have seen an encouraging burst of energy among our ministry teams and committees. Our Administrative Council has been working with us toward better communication and greater ministry effort, with a still tight budget. More people are engaged in leadership. We are looking for new ways to be in service in our community. We have donated significant sums to the relief effort in Haiti, to the Good Neighbor fund, and you continue to support the church well with your tithes, gifts and offerings. Thank you for your faithfulness!

On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, we will to pass from the season of Epiphany to Lent. Lent is the season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. It’s purpose is to prepare us for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Having seen Jesus, what does that mean for our lives?

Richard Garland writes, “I am not fond of Lent. There is for me a burdensome quality to a season that begins with ashes and ends with a tomb. It has for me the heavy feel of dark duty. So, I tend to approach Lent with an attitude that I need to do something, or give something up. By the end of Lent I have often been exhausted and aching for some decadent "death by chocolate" dessert. But I need Lent. I need the disciplines that we associate with the season. I need the insights those disciplines typically reveal. I need the transforming power of the Spirit that the insight calls forth.”

“What are you giving up for Lent?” may be a question you have heard before. Some choose to give up one particular thing for Lent; caffeine, or chocolate, or meat on Fridays. Prayer, repentance, alms giving and fasting are traditional practices during this season, and can be lived out in a variety of ways.

For me, Easter is always more powerful and joyful the times I have given particular personal attention,

iWant iPad

[edited] Cancel that brief spate of covetousness. This is a neat-o device, but it lacks a slew of features that one would imagine should be included (not to mention the essential accessories not included in the box). It would be worth the money (???) but as it is, it's just another pretty Apple gadget.

Quote of the day...

You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. ~ Anne Lamott

United Methodists respond in Haiti

Check out UMNews Service

here: United Methodists respond with prayer, aid for Haiti.
http://tiny.cc/S8RFr

and here for coverage of all UMC news from Haiti
http://tiny.cc/TIG7u

a Comment on Scott's Thoughts

The following is my comment on Scott Coats' blog post from yesterday, which was based on the devotional he led before our Administrative Council meeting this week. I thought he made some great points.

Scott, you did an awesome job with the devotion at Ad Council - well told and good content. Your point was perfect for this moment in the life of our church, and the terrific follow-up questions zero us in on the goal of making disciples. You are spot on to emphasize that discipleship is a lifelong process. So many never receive the wise encouragement you heard, and are left with that bereft feeling of “I thought everything was going to be different now that I’ve been baptized!”

Can I broaden our understanding of Jesus’ “go make disciples” just a hair? The broader part is in the “making” of a disciple. I loved the illustration you used at the meeting - if I remember you said, “getting saved is not the finish line of a race. It is more like the starting line of a marathon, a lifelong journey.” You are right, discipleship is a journey – yes, the part about “people in the door and butts in pews” is indeed ancillary, but getting them to the starting line is a crucial first step in the taking of that journey.

I learned one way to approach this passage in a class focusing on the verbs: Go, Make, Baptize, Teach, Remember. Each part is an essential role of the church. That framework has helped keep me centered when things start to get wild around here.

 “Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing^xthem in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember,^xI am with you always, to the end of the age.” ^x~ Matthew^x28:18-20

The main job of the church, according to these last words of Jesus in Matthew, is to “make disciples.”

Song for Wesley Covenant Renewal Service

This will be a great song for the John Wesley Covenant Renewal Service. It's on the igrace site with chords and lyrics, etc here. I've got it on their first Indelible Grace album. Their update of this classic hymn is really great. Take a listen.

Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce

Gotta love the Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce... (thanks Susan)

Care of creation - United Methodist style

On November 3, 2009, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church issued a pastoral letter to the church, “God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action” (See United Methodist News Service story).

The bishops recommend that the pastoral letter be shared during the season of Advent in each of 42,600 congregations worldwide. Additionally, a liturgical setting for the letter offers responsive elements for congregational participation. These are a “lament for God’s people and God’s planet,” confession of “failure to embody the image of God,” and call to action inviting people to join the bishops in their own nine pledges for urgent, effective action.

The full text of the pastoral letter is below. A PDF of this document, and a liturgical setting are available at http://hopeandaction.org

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God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action

A Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church[1]

God’s creation is in crisis. We, the Bishops of The United Methodist Church, cannot remain silent while God’s people and God’s planet suffer. This beautiful natural world is a loving gift from God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen. God has entrusted its care to all of us, but we have turned our backs on God and on our responsibilities. Our neglect, selfishness, and pride have fostered:

• pandemic poverty and disease;

• environmental degradation, and

• the proliferation of weapons and violence.[i]

Despite these interconnected threats to life and hope, God’s creative work continues. Despite the ways we all contribute to these problems, God still invites each one of us to participate in the work of renewal. We must begin the work of renewing creation by being renewed in our own hearts and minds. We cannot help the world until we change our way of being in it.

We all feel saddened by the state of the world, overwhelmed by the scope of these problems, and anxious about the future, but God calls us and equips us to respond. No matter how bad things are, God’s creative work continues. Christ’s resurrection assures us that death and destruction do not have the last word. Paul taught that through Jesus Christ, God offers redemption to all of creation and reconciles all things, “whether on earth or in heaven.”(Col 1:20[ii]) God’s Spirit is always and everywhere at work in the world fighting poverty, restoring health, renewing creation, and reconciling peoples.

Aware of God’s vision for creation, we no longer see a list of isolated problems affecting disconnected people, plants, and animals. Rather, we see one interconnected system that “groans in travail.”(Romans 8:22) The threats to peace, people, and planet earth are related to one another, and God’s vision encompasses complete well-being. We, your bishops, join with many global religious leaders to call for a comprehensive response to these interrelated issues. We urge all United Methodists and people of goodwill to offer themselves as instruments of God’s renewing Spirit in the world.

First, let us orient our lives toward God’s holy vision. This vision of the future calls us to hope and to action. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”(Jer 29:11) Christ’s resurrection assures us that this vision is indeed a promise of renewal and reconciliation. As disciples of Christ, we take God’s promise as the purpose for our lives. Let us, then, rededicate ourselves to God’s holy vision, living each day with awareness of the future God extends to us and of the Spirit that leads us onward.

Second, let us practice social and environmental holiness. We believe personal holiness and social holiness must never be separated. John Wesley preached: “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social. No holiness but social holiness.”[iii]  Through social holiness we make ourselves a channel of God’s blessing in the world. Because God’s blessing, care, and promise of renewal extend to all of creation, we can speak today of “environmental holiness” as well. We practice social and environmental holiness by caring for God’s people and God’s planet and by challenging those whose policies and practices neglect the poor, exploit the weak, hasten global warming, and produce more weapons.

Third, let us live and act in hope. As people in the tradition of John Wesley, we understand reconciliation and renewal to be part of the process of salvation that is already underway. We are not hemmed into a fallen world. Rather we are part of a divine unfolding process to which we must contribute. As we faithfully respond to God’s grace and call to action, the Holy Spirit guides us in this renewal. With a resurrection spirit, we look forward to the renewal of the whole creation and commit ourselves to that vision. We pray that God will accept and use our lives and resources that we re-dedicate to a ministry of peace, justice and hope to overcome poverty and disease, environmental degradation, and the proliferation of weapons and violence.

With God’s help and with you as our witnesses…

1. We as your bishops pledge to answer God’s call to deepen our spiritual consciousness as just stewards of creation. We commit ourselves to faithful and effective leadership on these issues, in our denomination, and in our communities and nations.

2. We pledge to make God’s vision of renewal our goal. With every evaluation and decision, we will ask: Does this contribute to God’s renewal of creation? Ever aware of the difference between what is and what must be, we pledge to practice Wesleyan “holy dissatisfaction.”[iv]

3. We pledge to practice dialogue with those whose life experience differs dramatically from our own, and we pledge to practice prayerful self-examination. For example, in the Council of bishops, the fifty active bishops in the United States are committed to listening and learning with the nineteen active bishops in Africa, Asia and Europe. And the bishops representing the United States’ conferences will prayerfully examine the fact that their nation consumes more than its fair share of the world’s resources, generates the most waste, and produces the most weapons.

4. We pledge ourselves to make common cause with religious leaders and people of good will worldwide who share these concerns. We will connect and collaborate with ecumenical and interreligious partners and with community and faith organizations so that we may strengthen our common efforts.

5. We pledge to advocate for justice and peace in the halls of power in our respective nations and international organizations.

6. We pledge to measure the “carbon footprint”[v] of our episcopal and denominational offices, determine how to reduce it, and implement those changes. We will urge our congregations, schools and settings of ministry to do the same.

7. We pledge, to the best of our ability, to provide the resources needed by our conferences to reduce dramatically our collective exploitation of the planet, peoples and communities, including technical assistance with buildings and programs, education and training, young people’s and online networking resources.

8. We pledge to practice hope as we engage and continue supporting the many transforming ministries of our denomination. Every day we will thank God for fruit produced through the work of The United Methodist Church and through each of you.

9. We pledge more effective use of the church and community webpages to inspire and share what we learn.[vi] We celebrate the communications efforts that tell the stories of struggle and transformation within our denomination.

With these pledges, we respond to God’s gracious invitation to join in the process of renewal. God is already visibly at work in people and groups around the world. We rededicate ourselves to join these movements, the movements of the Spirit. Young people are passionately raising funds to provide mosquito nets for their “siblings” thousands of miles away. Dock workers are refusing to off-load small weapons being smuggled to armed combatants in civil wars in their continent. People of faith are demanding land reform on behalf of landless farm workers. Children and young people have formed church-wide “green teams” to transform our buildings and ministries into testimonies of stewardship and sustainability. Ecumenical and interreligious partners persist in demanding the major nuclear powers to reduce their arsenals, step by verifiable step, making a way to a more secure world totally disarmed of nuclear weapons. God is already doing a new thing. With this Letter and the accompanying Foundation Document, we rededicate ourselves to participate in God’s work, and we urge you all to rededicate yourselves as well.

We beseech every United Methodist, every congregation and every public leader: “Will you participate in God’s renewing work?” We are filled with hope for what God can accomplish through us, and we pray you respond: “We will, with God’s help!”

May God’s grace purify our reason, strengthen our will, and guide our action. May the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit be among you, everywhere and always, so that you may be a blessing to all creation and to all the children of God, making peace, nurturing and practicing hope, choosing life and coming to life eternal. Amen.

---

[1] 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church called for the Council of Bishops to publish new documents and a study guide similar to the Council’s landmark call in 1986, In Defense of Creation: The Nuclear Crisis and a Just Peace. This is the Council’s response to the General Conference action (The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2004: “Replace In Defense of Creation with new Document and Study Guide”).

---

[i] In 2002, Reverend Dr. William Sloane Coffin, referring to a political trio of threats said, “A more likely and far more dangerous trio would be environmental degradation, pandemic poverty, and a world awash with weapons.” The Chautauqua Appeal, with Joan Brown Campbell and Stephen J. Sidorak, Jr. 

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all scriptural references are from the New Revised Standard Version published by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. 

[iii] Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739, ¶ 5. 

[iv] “When… Christian perfection becomes the goal, a fundamental hope is aroused that the future can surpass the present. And a corresponding holy dissatisfaction is aroused with regard to any present state of affairs—a dissatisfaction that supplies the critical edge necessary to keep the process of individual transformation moving. Moreover, this holy dissatisfaction is readily transferable from the realm of the individual to that of society, where it provides a persistent motivation for reform in the light of ‘a more perfect way’ that goes beyond any status quo.” Runyon, Theodore, The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998), p. 168. 

[v] A “carbon footprint” is an estimate of how much carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) is produced to support life activities including travel and home energy use. Carbon footprints are also applied on a larger scale to companies, businesses, and nations.

[vi] In support of the many persons who have followed this project of the Council, an interactive multimedia website will have resources, educational materials, downloadable video clips and social networking: www.hopeandaction.org.