phillipallen.net
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As an ordained Baptist minister, I need a "stump" to speak from every now and then. My comments will be from a Christian mindset; I welcome comments from other viewpoints.
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NYTimes.com: Nobody Understands Debt
OPINION | January 02, 2012
Op-Ed Columnist: PAUL KRUGMAN
The obsession with deficit reduction is wrongheaded and ill-informed.
Daily Meditation: Incarnation
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Gypsy Madonna (detail), Titian, 1510.
INCARNATION
And the word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
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1705 Five Points Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 (physical)
PO Box 12464, Albuquerque, NM 87195-2464 (mailing)
(505)242-9588
www.cacradicalgrace.org
The Love of God
I Corinthians 13:8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. (NRSV)
The great Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth delivered one of the closing lectures of his life at the University of Chicago Divinity School during his only visit to the United States in 1962. At the end of the lecture, he was asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?"
This was a remarkable question to ask a man who had written tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put on paper; the students had their pads and pencils ready. Karl Barth closed his eyes and thought for a few moments. Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and said to the young seminarians, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"
The older I get the more amused, and somewhat perturbed I am at what we try to make the Bible. It is not a history book, not a geography book, not a science book, not a self-help manual. It is the revelation of God to humankind! It is the revelation of a love that cannot be understood by the human mind alone. No other religion in history claims that God, the Creator, Divine Love itself chose to come to Earth as a human being to teach us how we could be in God. it was not revealed to a human being in some vision or experience. God came to show us how to live, by living with us, as one of us,.
The very day I was thinking of this subject, I was on my Meals on Wheels route. Generally every Tuesday about midway through my route, I stop by Mr. Perkins house. I always have to wait quite a few minutes for Mr. Perkins to come to the door. He has been in poor health ever since I first met him. But without exception, when I ask him how he is doing today, he tells me he is blessed. On this Tuesday, I felt something was not right as I approached the door. No one responded to my knocking and after a few minutes, I walked back toward my car. A neighbor was walking up the street and told me that Mr. Perkins had passed away that morning.
I only knew Mr Perkins through a weekly five minute meeting in the doorway of his home. But somehow, in the mystery of it all, I experienced the love of God through Mr. Perkins and his wife. I believe it is because they understand what being in God is all about..
The Gaither Vocal Band sang the following lines in “The Love of God”:
The love of God is greater far, than gold or silver ever could afford.
It reaches past the highest star, and covers all the world.
It's power is eternal; It's glory is supernal.
When all this earth shall pass away, there'll always be the love of God.
At Christmas, may God open your heart to His love, your mind to His wonders, your ears to His voice and your life to His presence.
The great Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth delivered one of the closing lectures of his life at the University of Chicago Divinity School during his only visit to the United States in 1962. At the end of the lecture, he was asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?"
This was a remarkable question to ask a man who had written tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put on paper; the students had their pads and pencils ready. Karl Barth closed his eyes and thought for a few moments. Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and said to the young seminarians, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"
The older I get the more amused, and somewhat perturbed I am at what we try to make the Bible. It is not a history book, not a geography book, not a science book, not a self-help manual. It is the revelation of God to humankind! It is the revelation of a love that cannot be understood by the human mind alone. No other religion in history claims that God, the Creator, Divine Love itself chose to come to Earth as a human being to teach us how we could be in God. it was not revealed to a human being in some vision or experience. God came to show us how to live, by living with us, as one of us,.
The very day I was thinking of this subject, I was on my Meals on Wheels route. Generally every Tuesday about midway through my route, I stop by Mr. Perkins house. I always have to wait quite a few minutes for Mr. Perkins to come to the door. He has been in poor health ever since I first met him. But without exception, when I ask him how he is doing today, he tells me he is blessed. On this Tuesday, I felt something was not right as I approached the door. No one responded to my knocking and after a few minutes, I walked back toward my car. A neighbor was walking up the street and told me that Mr. Perkins had passed away that morning.
I only knew Mr Perkins through a weekly five minute meeting in the doorway of his home. But somehow, in the mystery of it all, I experienced the love of God through Mr. Perkins and his wife. I believe it is because they understand what being in God is all about..
The Gaither Vocal Band sang the following lines in “The Love of God”:
The love of God is greater far, than gold or silver ever could afford.
It reaches past the highest star, and covers all the world.
It's power is eternal; It's glory is supernal.
When all this earth shall pass away, there'll always be the love of God.
At Christmas, may God open your heart to His love, your mind to His wonders, your ears to His voice and your life to His presence.
AlterNet: 5 Reasons the Religious Right Should Stop Whining About Being Persecuted
This story has been forwarded to you from
http://www.alternet.org by phillip@brencase.com
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5 Reasons the Religious Right Should Stop Whining About Being Persecuted
http://www.alternet.org/story/153207
For decades Christian conservatives have claimed persecution. Their powerful hold on Washington tells a different story.
-------------------------------------
http://www.alternet.org by phillip@brencase.com
-------------------------------------
5 Reasons the Religious Right Should Stop Whining About Being Persecuted
http://www.alternet.org/story/153207
For decades Christian conservatives have claimed persecution. Their powerful hold on Washington tells a different story.
-------------------------------------
Republicanity - the not so new religion!
Many of us have been warning you good Republicans of this for over thirty years. You ignored it, thought it could not happen or embraced it.
Today is Will Campbell's 87th Birthday
If you do not know Will Campbell, you should!
two years ago!
Two years ago this morning I woke up in a hospital room after experiencing surgical removal of a cancerous prostate. A few days later I received a Tim McGraw CD from Glenda's daughter, Sonja. She wanted me to listen to this song; I want to share it with you. Thank you again, Sonja!
Sunday Night Worship update
Seven months ago, we started what Julie termed our “Sunday night worship at The Storehouse” (I wrote about it on this blog the next day). That organization graciously offered their property and we began to serve meals to anyone and everyone from 4:30-6:30 PM every Sunday. The Fresh Market got us going with their dated bread and desserts; later on they began giving us their refrigerated deli and fruit products, as well as occasional produce. We also were offered ice every Sunday from the Burger King directly behind the church. Church members and other volunteers have
prepared soup and other hot dishes to complement the meal.
As of this week (31 consecutive Sundays), we have served approximately 140 different individuals and over 500 meals overall. And just as important, we have developed new friendships as we join each other around the table and share stories. I no longer can drive down Seventh Avenue without recognizing someone I know. I did for ten years and never really noticed anyone walking down the street. Now my car window goes down and I am calling out to someone by name; without exception I receive a big wave of the hand as I go by.
There are many stories to tell about many of those people, and you will be able to read some of those stories in the coming weeks. The latest is a good one to start with, although it is not about any of the personal relationships we have established. We had discussed for a couple of weeks the idea of having a cookout Sunday July 3 to celebrate Independence Day with our dinner guests. On the Sunday before (June 26), when Erick at The Fresh Market rolled out the carts with the food for the day, there in one of the carts were 12 packages of Hebrew National Hot Dogs. That was the first time we had received that item in the seven months we had been picking up food there. Yes, we decided at that moment we would definitely have a cookout the next week. This past Sunday, between 40 and 50 people joined us in The Storehouse parking lot for grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon and strawberry shortcake. That was in addition to the many salads and sandwiches we had received from The Fresh Market.
I encourage and challenge you to assist us just one Sunday afternoon. But I warn you; you must be very careful. You too may not be able to drive on the streets of Hendersonville with out seeing someone you recognize, and have that uncontrollable urge to call out to your new friends!
As of this week (31 consecutive Sundays), we have served approximately 140 different individuals and over 500 meals overall. And just as important, we have developed new friendships as we join each other around the table and share stories. I no longer can drive down Seventh Avenue without recognizing someone I know. I did for ten years and never really noticed anyone walking down the street. Now my car window goes down and I am calling out to someone by name; without exception I receive a big wave of the hand as I go by.
There are many stories to tell about many of those people, and you will be able to read some of those stories in the coming weeks. The latest is a good one to start with, although it is not about any of the personal relationships we have established. We had discussed for a couple of weeks the idea of having a cookout Sunday July 3 to celebrate Independence Day with our dinner guests. On the Sunday before (June 26), when Erick at The Fresh Market rolled out the carts with the food for the day, there in one of the carts were 12 packages of Hebrew National Hot Dogs. That was the first time we had received that item in the seven months we had been picking up food there. Yes, we decided at that moment we would definitely have a cookout the next week. This past Sunday, between 40 and 50 people joined us in The Storehouse parking lot for grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon and strawberry shortcake. That was in addition to the many salads and sandwiches we had received from The Fresh Market.
I encourage and challenge you to assist us just one Sunday afternoon. But I warn you; you must be very careful. You too may not be able to drive on the streets of Hendersonville with out seeing someone you recognize, and have that uncontrollable urge to call out to your new friends!
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Even when this blog is not being updated, you can often keep up with my thoughts and opinions by liking me on Facebook. There is a link on the left side of the page, at the bottom of Phillip's Favorite Links.
