Nothing is more agonizing and emblematic of the nihilistic helplessness of modern diplomacy than the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I can totally understand Mahmoud Abbas going to the United Nations to petition for statehood. It’s obviously going to get vetoed by the US, but I’m perplexed that anyone could criticize him for trying something different than a process which has gone nowhere for as long as I’ve been alive. (more…) Read more
I heard a sermon recently on the need to create a “culture of life” instead of the “culture of death” that we currently have in our society. Not only do we love violence in our movies and video games, but our culture of death shows a contempt for the lives of people who are crushed by impersonal forces within our economy and society. Defending a culture of life means more than just picketing abortion clinics or voting for electoral candidates... Read more
In the buildup to the first US invasion of Iraq, there was a haunting video that got circulated around of Saddam Hussein standing in a room of people who were giving him a standing ovation while, one by one, he selected certain individuals to be taken out and executed. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to clap for a dictator in those circumstances. Certainly many of the people in the room were clapping in order to appease Saddam’s... Read more
So tonight I began my career as a public school parent by attending our first back-to-school night at White Oaks Elementary School. We were greeted as we walked in the door by a throng of political operatives very aggressively handing out flyers for school board candidates. It made me wonder if someone has a nefarious plan to take over the Fairfax County school system and cut the free lunches for poor kids and all the music and art classes to... Read more
Psalm 119:113-120 I hate opinions, but I love your law. You are my hiding-place and my shield; I hope in your word. (more…) Read more
We had a memorial service tonight for September 11th at Burke United Methodist Church. It was perhaps the most meaningful event I’ve ever attended that had something to do with 9/11. It wasn’t grandiose or fancy in any way. Maybe 30-40 people attended. About a dozen different people shared testimony and each of them had something completely different to say. (more…) Read more
Sermon preached 9/10/2011 at Burke UMC Lifesign Service Text: Matthew 11:28-30 (as well as selections throughout Matthew 11) What makes you weary? I get weary every time I look at the kitchen sink. In the division of labor in our household chores, the sink is mine. But I’m so weary when I look at it that I just put another plate inside. And then the plates start to come out of the sink onto the counter, and that makes me... Read more
The Christian blogosphere lit up after the Republican debate on Wednesday night when the audience applauded Rick Perry’s response to a question on his state’s use of the death penalty. Bruce Reyes-Chow started it off with a post that “applauding executions might be American but it is not Christian.” Peter Catapano of the NY Times has a good summary of the blogs on “both sides of the aisle” that have followed. I think the first thing that’s important to recognize... Read more
The Christian blogosphere lit up after the Republican debate on Wednesday night when the audience applauded Rick Perry’s response to a question on his state’s use of the death penalty. Bruce Reyes-Chow started it off with a post that “applauding executions might be American but it is not Christian.” Peter Catapano of the NY Times has a good summary of the blogs on “both sides of the aisle” that have followed. I think the first thing that’s important to recognize... Read more
Psalm 119:105-112 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. (more…) Read more
Mercy Not Sacrifice
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