(I'm writing a sermon which is touching on eschotology and this is an little side observation that needs to go somewhere else)
So... is anybody else perturbed by the Philly cream cheese commercials that has angels exclaiming over its great taste/less filling qualities while in the background is a fluffy cloud holding up a row of walking exercise machines? Like going to gym in this lifetime - which has an end sooner or later - isn't enough fun we can all die and keep going for all eternity? Is not my own post-resurrected self supposed to be already perfected?
I"m just saying...
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A letter to Sally Kern from a senior in high school in Oklahoma.
I am not sure if you are aware of recent comments that were made by Oklahoma State House Representative Sally Kern. If you have not you can listen to her hate filled speech here:
http://pageoneq. com/news/ 2008/ellen_ sallykern031208. html
If you haven't seen this yet, read it, then pass it along.
>> A letter to Sally Kern from a senior in high school in Oklahoma.
>> *******
>>
>> Today my nephew attempted to deliver a letter to Sally Kern but
>> was stopped by a highway patrol man. With his permission I am
>> distributing the letter to all news stations and thought I would
>> include it here.
>>
>> Maybe we can all stand to learn a listen from this smart, loving,
>> young man. He more than most has reason to hate. He lost his
>> mother, my sister, in the Murrah Building bombing.
>>
>> Elizabeth
>> ( by way page 112 of the News9 Comment Section at http://
>> www.news9.com/ global/story. asp?s=7983168
>>
>> Letter From Tucker
>>
>> Rep Kern:
>> On April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City a terrorist detonated a bomb
>> that killed my mother and 167 others. 19 children died that day.
>> Had I not had the chicken pox that day, the body count would've
>> likely have included one more. Over 800 other Oklahomans were
>> injured that day and many of those still suffer through their
>> permanent wounds.
>>
>> That terrorist was neither a homosexual or was he involved in
>> Islam. He was an extremist Christian forcing his views through a
>> body count. He held his beliefs and made those who didn't live up
>> to them pay with their lives.
>>
>> As you were not a resident of Oklahoma on that day, it could be
>> explained why you so carelessly chose words saying that the
>> homosexual agenda is worst than terrorism. I can most certainly
>> tell you through my own experience that is not true. I am sure
>> there are many people in your voting district that laid a loved
>> one to death after the terrorist attack on Oklahoma City. I kind
>> of doubt you'll find one of them that will agree with you.
>>
>> I was five years old when my mother died. I remember what a
>> beautiful, wise, and remarkable woman she was. I miss her. Your
>> harsh words and misguided beliefs brought me to tears, because you
>> told me that my mother's killer was a better person than a group
>> of people that are seeking safety and tolerance for themselves.
>>
>> As someone left motherless and victimized by terrorists, I say to
>> you very clearly you are absolutely wrong.
>>
>> You represent a district in Oklahoma City and you very coldly
>> express a lack of love, sympathy or understanding for what they've
>> been through. Can I ask if you might have chosen wiser words were
>> you a real Oklahoman that was here to share the suffering with
>> Oklahoma City? Might your heart be a bit less cold had you been
>> around to see the small bodies of children being pulled out of
>> rubble and carried away by weeping firemen?
>>
>> I've spent 12 years in Oklahoma public schools and never once have
>> I had anyone try to force a gay agenda on me. I have seen,
>> however, many gay students beat up and there's never a day in
>> school that has went by when I haven't heard the word **** slung
>> at someone. I've been called gay slurs many times and they hurt
>> and I am not even gay so I can just imagine how a real gay person
>> feels. You were a school teacher and you have seen those things
>> too. How could you care so little about the suffering of some of
>> your students?
>>
>> Let me tell you the result of your words in my school. Every
>> openly gay and suspected gay in the school were having to walk
>> together Monday for protection. They looked scared. They've
>> already experienced enough hate and now your words gave other
>> students even more motivation to sneer at them and call them
>> names. Afterall, you are a teacher and a lawmaker, many young
>> people have taken your words to heart. That happens when you
>> assume a role of responsibility in your community. I seriously
>> think before this week ends that some kids here will be going home
>> bruised and bloody because of what you said.
>>
>> I wish you could've met my mom. Maybe she could've guided you in
>> how a real Christian should be acting and speaking.
>>
>> I have not had a mother for nearly 13 years now and wonder if
>> there were fewer people like you around, people with more love and
>> tolerance in their hearts instead of strife, if my mom would be
>> here to watch me graduate from high school this spring. Now she
>> won't be there. So I'll be packing my things and leaving Oklahoma
>> to go to college elsewhere and one day be a writer and I have no
>> intentions to ever return here. I have no doubt that people like
>> you will incite crazy people to build more bombs and kill more
>> people again. I don't want to be here for that. I just can't go
>> through that again.
>>
>> You may just see me as a kid, but let me try to teach you
>> something. The old saying is sticks and stones will break your
>> bones, but words will never hurt you. Well, your words hurt me.
>> Your words disrespected the memory of my mom. Your words can cause
>> others to pick up sticks and stones and hurt others.
>>
>> Sincerely
>>
>> Tucker
http://pageoneq. com/news/ 2008/ellen_ sallykern031208. html
If you haven't seen this yet, read it, then pass it along.
>> A letter to Sally Kern from a senior in high school in Oklahoma.
>> *******
>>
>> Today my nephew attempted to deliver a letter to Sally Kern but
>> was stopped by a highway patrol man. With his permission I am
>> distributing the letter to all news stations and thought I would
>> include it here.
>>
>> Maybe we can all stand to learn a listen from this smart, loving,
>> young man. He more than most has reason to hate. He lost his
>> mother, my sister, in the Murrah Building bombing.
>>
>> Elizabeth
>> ( by way page 112 of the News9 Comment Section at http://
>> www.news9.com/ global/story. asp?s=7983168
>>
>> Letter From Tucker
>>
>> Rep Kern:
>> On April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City a terrorist detonated a bomb
>> that killed my mother and 167 others. 19 children died that day.
>> Had I not had the chicken pox that day, the body count would've
>> likely have included one more. Over 800 other Oklahomans were
>> injured that day and many of those still suffer through their
>> permanent wounds.
>>
>> That terrorist was neither a homosexual or was he involved in
>> Islam. He was an extremist Christian forcing his views through a
>> body count. He held his beliefs and made those who didn't live up
>> to them pay with their lives.
>>
>> As you were not a resident of Oklahoma on that day, it could be
>> explained why you so carelessly chose words saying that the
>> homosexual agenda is worst than terrorism. I can most certainly
>> tell you through my own experience that is not true. I am sure
>> there are many people in your voting district that laid a loved
>> one to death after the terrorist attack on Oklahoma City. I kind
>> of doubt you'll find one of them that will agree with you.
>>
>> I was five years old when my mother died. I remember what a
>> beautiful, wise, and remarkable woman she was. I miss her. Your
>> harsh words and misguided beliefs brought me to tears, because you
>> told me that my mother's killer was a better person than a group
>> of people that are seeking safety and tolerance for themselves.
>>
>> As someone left motherless and victimized by terrorists, I say to
>> you very clearly you are absolutely wrong.
>>
>> You represent a district in Oklahoma City and you very coldly
>> express a lack of love, sympathy or understanding for what they've
>> been through. Can I ask if you might have chosen wiser words were
>> you a real Oklahoman that was here to share the suffering with
>> Oklahoma City? Might your heart be a bit less cold had you been
>> around to see the small bodies of children being pulled out of
>> rubble and carried away by weeping firemen?
>>
>> I've spent 12 years in Oklahoma public schools and never once have
>> I had anyone try to force a gay agenda on me. I have seen,
>> however, many gay students beat up and there's never a day in
>> school that has went by when I haven't heard the word **** slung
>> at someone. I've been called gay slurs many times and they hurt
>> and I am not even gay so I can just imagine how a real gay person
>> feels. You were a school teacher and you have seen those things
>> too. How could you care so little about the suffering of some of
>> your students?
>>
>> Let me tell you the result of your words in my school. Every
>> openly gay and suspected gay in the school were having to walk
>> together Monday for protection. They looked scared. They've
>> already experienced enough hate and now your words gave other
>> students even more motivation to sneer at them and call them
>> names. Afterall, you are a teacher and a lawmaker, many young
>> people have taken your words to heart. That happens when you
>> assume a role of responsibility in your community. I seriously
>> think before this week ends that some kids here will be going home
>> bruised and bloody because of what you said.
>>
>> I wish you could've met my mom. Maybe she could've guided you in
>> how a real Christian should be acting and speaking.
>>
>> I have not had a mother for nearly 13 years now and wonder if
>> there were fewer people like you around, people with more love and
>> tolerance in their hearts instead of strife, if my mom would be
>> here to watch me graduate from high school this spring. Now she
>> won't be there. So I'll be packing my things and leaving Oklahoma
>> to go to college elsewhere and one day be a writer and I have no
>> intentions to ever return here. I have no doubt that people like
>> you will incite crazy people to build more bombs and kill more
>> people again. I don't want to be here for that. I just can't go
>> through that again.
>>
>> You may just see me as a kid, but let me try to teach you
>> something. The old saying is sticks and stones will break your
>> bones, but words will never hurt you. Well, your words hurt me.
>> Your words disrespected the memory of my mom. Your words can cause
>> others to pick up sticks and stones and hurt others.
>>
>> Sincerely
>>
>> Tucker
For the activist out there if you would like to send an email to Sally her address is sallykern@okhouse. gov
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Preaching
I love my Episcopal church, it has so many positives, except the preaching. It's a little like torture most Sundays; except when they have guest preachers (the regular Methodist guest preacher tends to bring it in the pulpit), and there is one priest who is an excellent exegete and speaker, who only preaches once every two months. (There are 8 priests at our church who rotate preaching, with the Rector preaching 2 Sundays a month). I even go so far as to write my own, but it would be nice to learn from people who are better at preaching than I am. Easter was really the last straw for me, I had to go to 2 services and hear the ridiculous sermon twice. I know preaching is not everyone's gift, our Rector is really good in small groups and great at pastoral care.
All of that being said I am on the look out for great sermons to read on Monday morning. I already read Heather Jepsen's blog (I hope you preached your Easter sermon and will post it soon, if not can I have a copy?). If any of you know of other really good sermons out there that I can read that would be helpful. I'm not looking for things like tribalchurch.org, which I love, but actual sermons.
Thanks
All of that being said I am on the look out for great sermons to read on Monday morning. I already read Heather Jepsen's blog (I hope you preached your Easter sermon and will post it soon, if not can I have a copy?). If any of you know of other really good sermons out there that I can read that would be helpful. I'm not looking for things like tribalchurch.org, which I love, but actual sermons.
Thanks
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