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Random
Thoughts
December 20,
2006
 | I’m an Arkansan. For the first couple of months after
moving here, when asked where I was from, I would say something like, Hot
Springs; I just recently moved here from Memphis.” Now I just answer, “Hot
Springs.” So I am an Arkansan and I can make fun of us and get away with it.
Well, maybe not get away with it but I’m going to do it anyway. Here is the
thing; following weekday Eucharist on Wednesdays it has become my custom to
walk to Granny’s Restaurant for breakfast. I had originally intended to have
coffee and a muffin at Vicky’s Coffee Shop, only she is not open in the
morning. A coffee shop that does not open in the morning? Well, that is
another story. Back to Granny’s. The personnel in Granny’s play country
music over their speakers while I eat my breakfast and read the paper. This
morning they played “Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks. Now believe
me, I am not a fan of country music but even I know about this song. A few
minutes after the song finished a man called the station to complain about it
getting air time. If you are not familiar with the tune here is the deal:
back in 2003 during the early days of our invasion of Iraq one of the Dixie
Chick ladies said, in Germany I think, that she was ashamed to be an American
because of our decision to invade. This caused all kinds of problems for the
group in this country. Most country radio stations pulled them from their
play lists. They were blacklisted. They received hate mail and death threats
from the country music crowd because they were not, in the opinion of many of
their former fans, patriots. Now sometime in 2006, and it has been several
months ago, they released the aforementioned song. In essence they are saying
they ain’t apologizing. This too caused them some problems. However, that is
history now, except apparently in Hot Springs. This morning’s caller had just
heard the thing for the first time. Now I now news can travel slowly in
Arkansas, something like the mail does, but come on man. Where in the world
have you been? |
| In a recent sermon I suggested that I probably watch too
much news. I see too many painful images on CNN of what is going on in Iraq.
Now I read that I watch and read less than the average American. A good deal
less as it turns out. A recent study predicts that the average American will
spend 91/2 hours a day with some combination of TV, radio, internet and
newspaper in 2007. Wow! This same report said that there are more TVs in
America than people. It also said that many homes have a set in every room.
Do we like to purchase and accumulate stuff or what? How many rooms does the
average house have, 5-6? I don’t know, probably more but that will do for my
purpose here. Suppose, just for the fun of it, that we only had 3-4 TVs in
our homes instead of 5 or 6. Maybe we could get by like that, I don’t know
for sure. But if we could, and if we spent the saved TV purchase money for
the other 2-3 sets and fed hungry people, we could actually be doing the work
of Jesus. But I know this line of thinking, theology actually, bores many
people. And heck, when we had to go to the bathroom we might miss something
important. |
| A new church/state flack has arisen as we approach the
January 4, 2007 swearing in of new members of congress. It seems that the
first-ever elected Muslim to serve in the US congress wants to be sworn in
with his hand not on a Bible, but on a Q’ran. His request seems logical to me
and constitutional as well. Do you think Christians or Jews would want to be
sworn in using a Q’ran? |
| A stomach virus is making its way around Hot Springs.
I, like most everybody else, have contracted it. I went to the doc. He
called it “para-flu.” He prescribed steroids. I’m wondering, do you think I
will start hitting a lot of home runs? |
| I have been, as you know, a constant critic of the
current administration’s foreign policy, particularly as it is played out in
Iraq and the middle-east. I must say though that I am very happy to see the
president seek advice from a wide range of experts on how we should proceed in
Iraq. It seems to me that he has, until now, only relied on the same few
people to help him chart our course. Their advice and his decisions have
resulted in a horrible humanitarian tragedy. I pray to God that we will make
the right decisions and begin to help stabilize that country and get out of
there. |
| Speaking of Iraq, someone said to me the other day that
what is going on there now, in terms of the number of civilian deaths per year
is no different than what was happening under Sadaam. He was not trying to
justify the killing, just making a point. Of course, the difference is we are
a part of the problem, not part of the solution, at least to this point. I
fear we will leave the country in a state of civil war that will cost more
lives than I can imagine. I do not have an answer, and neither does George W.
Bush. That is why I am happy he is listening to a greater number of people
who do not all have the same world view. |
| St. Luke’s stewardship “season” is just about totally
over now. We ended up with a 40% increase in giving and I think about a 30%
increase in givers. Never in my wildest imagination could I have dreamt we
could do that. What in the world does one do for an encore? Well, not to
worry about that, just give thanks to God that we were able to do what we did. |
| Advent is almost over folks. Christ is coming! Have a
merry Christmas. Peace be with you, Shalom, Salaam. |
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