Random Thoughts

December 1, 2006

WOW! Let me enjoy the sin of pride just a moment, and then I’ll ask forgiveness. I do not think this is way this thing is supposed to work, but I’m going to sin and ask forgiveness anyway. The pride comes from being a part of St. Luke’s. The turn around in our life has come more quickly and dramatically than I had imagined it would. Now don’t get me wrong, I knew we would turn this ship and get on our feet financially, but not to this degree, nor this quickly. Here is what I mean: Consecration Sunday was November 19. Beginning that day and continuing on even now (as always in the church business it takes 6-7 weeks to clean up stewardship drives) we are looking at an increase in giving of 35% and an increase of approximately 20% in the number of giving units. Both of those numbers will grow because we know there are several families who have not yet, but will give generously to the church.

OK, OK. That’s the sin. Now please forgive me. I just couldn’t help it.

Having said all of that about the money coming our way, do not think there is not still some work left to be done. There is, and we will get it done.

In my view though, it is more important to note the atmosphere at St. Luke’s than the stewardship campaign. This place is alive. People are feeling good about themselves and their parish. As time goes by we will begin to make a greater impact on the life of our community because of this atmosphere, and soon we will have the resources to accomplish some wonderful things in the name of Christ.

Beyond St. Luke’s good things are happening too. For example, there has recently been a cease fire between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza/South Israel area. This makes me hopeful. Right now not much has been accomplished in the area of peace since the cease fire in that troubled Holy Land, but at least they are talking again. And, as I write this Condi Rice is there holding talks. I hope she can achieve something positive toward bringing about a two-state solution so those poor people can get on with life.

Speaking of peace, do you suppose it will ever arrive in Iraq? The sectarian violence, which we refuse to call civil war for some reason, continues unabated. The Iraqi government seems incapable of stopping it, but just today Pres. Bush has given a public vote of support for Al-Miliki; “He’s the right guy for Iraq.” And Bush has also said we are not leaving until the job is finished. I just wish he would tell us what Iraq will look like when the job is finished. Do we really expect a democracy with no violence among the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds? Or will we finally have to cave in on that and help them establish some sort of 3 part government? Or maybe even help them establish three separate countries? Or maybe it will look like something entirely different from any of these ideas. Who knows? I do not think our administration does. Nor do not think a Democrat congress is going to be able to change the course in Iraq. It is going to take another election in 2008 for that to happen. How many more people are going to die between now and then?

On the local scene, I continue to have people say to me that our downtown church is in a dangerous part of town. Dangerous? Please. I’m from Memphis. There is no danger in Hot Springs people. The people on the street around here are not dangerous, their even polite. I ought to take people on a field trip to some areas in Memphis to show them what danger really looks like.

Speaking of danger and Hot Springs; the only thing that I can think of is that there are an awful lot of aging drivers who maybe ought to think about hanging it up. And, speaking of driving in Hot Springs, I’d like to meet the engineer who designed the traffic pattern at Central Ave. and the MLK Exway. I suppose that means Martin Luther King Expressway. Anyway, there are 4 traffic signals in a span of 100 yards, and they are not synchronized. And, the intersection is under perpetual construction. Try that some time. In order to avoid that train wreck each day one can try Higdon Ferry road, the only other north/south street in HS. The only problem there is that a few thousand other people do that, and it is only one lane at the infamous MLK Exway. Now I’m told to just wait until racing season, it gets worse. I can hardly wait.

Also, I’ve been told that if this game of skill thing that has come to HS goes over like its promoters think it will, there will be 2 million more tourists here. Now think about that a minute. They will be driving on those same two streets. I wonder if I’m too old to get a pilots license and fly a helicopter? I could land it on our labyrinth. There probably is no place to land at Kroger though. Well, it was just a thought.

One last thing: I prayed the invocation at a banquet the other night and prayed for people who worship in the shadow of the cross, under the star of David and under the crescent moon. I don’t know what the people thought but at least I was not asked to leave. I just refuse to offer a Christian prayer in a setting where other religions may well be represented.