Only a flicker of light......

Last week my 96yr old Grandma fell, and since then has been in a rehab center in my hometown. Grandma has lived by herself, and despite bad knees and other complications has been managing. The issue now is 'will she be able to once again manage on her own, or will constant care be needed?' I cannot imagine the decisions that my mom, and her brothers and sister have awaiting them, but they have begun to discuss the matter. Amazingly my independent gram has said that 'IF the only alternative is the nursing home she will be content with their arrangements.' I wish she hadn't told them that because sitting in a conference with a rehab official my mother kept bringing up, 'well but if she's not able to go home.' Following the conference I asked my mother why she felt it necessary to keep bringing that up, it wasn't positive and the reply was 'well its the truth, she said it herself.' I tried to explain that Grandma's return to health, as much as possible, depended on a positive attitude and the rehab specialists know that when people think there is even the slightest possibility of returning home the recovery rate is much, much greater; so even though the medical possibilities are dim, to keep the hope alive makes a radical difference in their attitude even if they later must go to a nursing home. As I meditated that on the long drive home I began to again realize [with a new clarity and personal application] the spiritual application of keeping hope alive, even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. If our faith does not have a foundation of hope - hope that when this life ends an eternal one with the Father begins - then we live with an entirely different attitude. So I guess in some situations even IF can be grounded in hope.

I've come across an interesting article about 'assisted suicide,' and after some very brief research would like to explore it for a moment. The article is titled: 'Suicide clinic is suspected as divers find urns in lake.' It seems that a Swiss assisted suicide organization named Dignitas is suspected of throwing many urns into
lake Zurich. Divers found a huge pile of urns and stopped counting at 50 because the task seemed so great. The reporter goes on to say that this is not the first time this group has been accused of disposing urns in the lake; and one time locals complained of a 'white scum' on the surface. In Switzerland assisted suicide is legal as long as 'no profit' can be shown by the assisting agency. A former employee of the agency said that she knew there were at least 300 urns put in the lake. I wonder if their actions are 'legal' according to the State's law why it is necessary to so nefariously dispose of the remains? Okay, I get the dumping in the lake is illegal, but it seems a bit hypocritical to me that an agency so worried about the dignity of dying so casually dispenses of dignity once that person is gone ... I don't get it, unless John 3:20 applies here, 'Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.'
Is there a small portion of guilt, not just economic reason for their moonlighting activity ..... in my opinion the answer is Yes, only I'm not so sure its so small. Or perhaps one might say, 'turn out the light, forget what remains.'
[article is from 'The Scotsman,' dated 29 April 2010 by Allan Hall.]

Goldman who?

I am probably one of the 'least,' w/o exception qualified people to remark on this whole event; but I've been trying to education myself a little bit ... and the more informed I become the less confidence I'm tempted to have in anyone in politics. The scope of this issue is inclusive of both parties, and is no respecter of anyone. The only bottom line I've been able to observe [shows the lack of my understanding] is that 'if its not illegal' its okay. In many ways this is indicative to me of the ethical and moral decline of our culture; just because something is not illegal does not make it okay for me to practice against my neighbor, the same as if something is legal does not give me license to practice it. Somewhere along the decline the golden rule was been more than disregarded, its seems to have gone into hiding. Now let me talk about how I see this applying spiritually since I'm a little more familiar in this arena. To often I have watched the same bottom line drawn in religious circles. If scripture doesn't specifically say its not okay, then I can do it, or its left to my discretion. Little notice is taken of Paul's admonition that even if its okay for me, if it offends my neighbor than I am guilty of wrong doing. Maybe its time I stop being so entitled and learn to sacrifice, and/or be more concerned with how my actions are going to affect my neighbor than how right or wrong its going to make me look or get me ahead. Maybe its time the church becomes the church, Sunday I shared with my congregation a piece from Diana Butler Bass's book 'The People's History of Christianity,' so I would like to conclude with it here: [with some paraphrasing of my own, so I'll give the pg.# so you can find the exact quote] though having meet and spoke with Mrs.Bass I don't think she'd object too much to my understanding, since it takes nothing out of context.
'The persecution of early Christians was not so much because of the doctrine they believed or necessarily the message they preached, it was because of their RADICAL lifestyle of devotional practices....' [sorry the books at home so I can't quote the pg.# right now]
Cheers

Found at last!

Let me begin by saying that a 'huge' weight is about to be lifted from my mind because a group of Turkish/Chinese evangelical explorers are 99.9% sure they have found the remains of 'Noah's Ark' in eastern Turkey on Mount Ararat!! At Last!! It's just that .1% uncertainty that keeps knawing at me. And though I am trying to overcome my skepticism, I truly wonder how that .1% could ever be known for sure ............ but I'm open, or at least willing to listen. What I would like to do though is answer a few of the comments left about the article:
1] So Noah had to collect every different species of plants and animals from every island in the world ... then once the flood is over he had to return them to their original locations; a large amount of plants and animals would die at that elevation, and now every living thing on earth is inflicted with inbreeding problems? Its rather obvious that this commentor knows little about the story of the flood. And though Noah did collect some species the Bible story also tells us that after Noah/family entered the ark other species came to them. Noah didn't go around the world collecting, nor after the flood did he go around relocating ... if God determined that the Ark was to rest on a 13,000 ft high mountain, he certainly could keep the oxygen level there adequate for how long it was needed.
2] You Bible bumpers are right, this ark carried two of each 5400 species of mammals, two of each 8225 species of reptiles, tow of each of the 10,000 species of birds and two of he 1.5 - 1.8 million species of bugs ... Another brilliant scholar commenting here. Why is that everyone gets stuck on the number, they don't know the story obviously because there were seven of every clean species. I guess we're suppose to take a scientific/Darwinian leap here and know the exact number of species of everything, even though up until a few weeks ago some new species were found ... besides I would think a lot few species in Noah's day would be perfect proof for the evolutionists. Of course the bottom line is not really any of these facts ... but its faith in God, and that if God orders Noah to build a boat, if God plans a flood then everything is going to work out just right! I'm so glad I have faith and don't have to have proof for everything ........... besides faith helps to keep the mystery intact!!

Another day of family discovery!

A lady in my church congregation; whose father was a former pastor, and he and I used to have great times talking, passed away just a couple years ago. Because I had felt close to her father, who in many ways was a mentor to me, I nicknamed her Cuz. Yesterday she gave me a brief outline of her family genealogy that included a great-great uncle with my family name. So doing some research I've found out that her great-great uncle is also my great grandpa!! ... go figure. I guess in calling her Cuz I was a prophet and didn't know it. It will be fun as we share family stories from each side of the aisle; and the sense of being family takes on a new meaning.

Secrecy?!

Tonight the good wife and I get to meet our kids half-way and bring home our granddaughter for the weekend ..........but I don't know what time or where at, and my wife has left it up to me??? oh boy. A few moments ago I came across an article from an Idaho paper, 'Death of CAVEMAN ends an era in Idaho.' A man known as the Salmon River Caveman died at 94, after being taken to a nursing home a year ago by a concerned friend, but then he walked out and returned to his cave-home by the river. He's was one of the few surviving known individuals who live completely dependant upon nature. He even rented out some of the rooms in his multiple cave home. Its really a very interesting article about a man who was totally self-sufficient. Its said he was briefly married once, but decided that having a wife was too much company, plus she got tired of living in a cave! Earlier today I came across a headline story on the news that talked about secrecy but gave all the information about the military space plane that was recently launched from Cape Canaveral. The unmanned X-37B is supposed to be the space craft that introduces the next generation of space exploration. It is interesting that all the plans for this launch are in the news, and pictures of it are also included [I wonder if the President knows about it?]. What a secret? I hope I find out before too long where we're going this evening and where we will meet our kids - that's a secret I'm hoping doesn't exist too long.

Will you look at that DNA

As a youngster one of my favorite games was 'Cowboys and Indians,' and I ALWAYS played an Indian .... the reason; since I could remember my mother, and grandma had told me that we had Indian blood in us. And since I've found out that there was a regular Pottawatomi campsite on the other side of the river that runs along the edge of our town. My grandma's pop used to tell stories about them, to grandma, as he'd sell/barter merchandise with them. So I could frequently be found in front the mirror looking for high cheek bones, or heavy eyelids, or running my tongue across my teeth, feeling for slooping gums or examining my toes, imagine my horror when I couldn't locate any of those characteristics. In my present genealogical search I have come across a long removed uncle who supposedly married an Indian maiden princess....I guess there's still hope. What I never counted on was being linked to Neanderthal man. A genetic anthropologist at the U of N.Mexico, Dr. Jeffry Long,[www.dailymail.co.uk .. 'We may all be a little bit Neanderthal...'] has discovered that Neanderthal and my multi-thousand years ancestors had sex! Twice, once 60,000 yrs ago and then 40,000yrs ago; I guess they weren't as simple with those over-sized heads and 20% larger brains as we thought they were ... at least they had the sense to interbreed before extinction ... or wait, if I've got some of their DNA I guess they're not that extinct. Yah, but I've never heard any really good 'cowboy/neanderthal stories?! My only out right now from this prehistoric intercourse is that the first co-habitation happened in eastern Mediterranean, and the second was in eastern Asia ... something about the east I guess. So far my ancestors don't come from those areas, so at the present I'm safe. A little secret among my 'people' that we don't air out in the main-stream media is that it used to be quite acceptable practice for cousins to marry; matter of fact my grandpa/grandma [on my father's side] were a couple times removed cousins. My good wife enjoys reminding me of that, and my comeback is that perhaps her family might have benefited from the same practice. getting back to the neanderthals ... since many scientists believe that we evolved from one celled atoms, that means there were some lower level creatures in the pond, so I wonder if neanderthals got their inspiration from DNA left to them. For example: In 2007 a new slug species was discovered that actually shoots love darts! Go figure... [again you can find article at dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech]
With this new information I'm now a bit antsy about where my genealogical quest might take me; I mean with neanderthals and slugs now lurking in the framework of my gene quest, the rascals I'm running across look pretty dog-gone tame! Of course there weren't any scientist around to warn neanderthal about climbing Mount Kinabalu and unknowingly getting darted by one of those sleepy slugs worried about extinction.

Crying, Church and Chickens

At long last, after 60+yrs, I've had concerns answered as to why I'm a whiner. I know that I am because my wife affirms that every so often, and I can't talk about family history w/my mother without her telling me how much I cried as a baby. Childcare expert Penelope Leach has just published a new book that claims that distressed baby's who are repeatedly allowed to cry are at risk of developing problems later in life! There it is, I can now with confidence know that my intellectual lack of growth is no longer my fault - I can blame it on my parents for letting me cry so much. So since I'm now an officially sanctioned cry baby, that's what I'll do for a moment. Arnold Ahlert the other day wrote an article titled, 'Bashing Christians - or Gays?' And in this article he talks about a fact not often mentioned by the gay community, that peodophile priests are 'preying' on boys, not girls. I am getting pretty sick of gays [and all others that do] picking on the Catholic Church because of its covering for these priests, and on this point I agree whole-heartedly with them, that the church has covered up, but for not including in the conversation the sexual orientation of the priests, and why accuse everyone that is a CAtholic; instead lets put the whole picture into perspective?! [And I'm not even a Catholic] Well, I'll probably get some whiners to respond to my perceived insensitivity, but being a whiner myself that comes with being open about your feelings. Last, but not least I was excited to see that my favorite fast-food resturant, CHic-Fil-A is coming to Chicago. Now that's not going to affect me except that it shows the food chain is slowly moving NORTH; the article says that from 20-25 new stores in the next five years are going to be built there! Right now I have to drive two hours south to Ft.Wayne, Ind. to get a fowl-fix! This is a christian chain, and for that alone I would support them, they are closed on Sunday, they have religious themed toys in their kids meals and promote religious programs. A few months ago I forgot all about that, and driving SOUTH I went a number of miles out of my way to stop at the Chic-Fil-A; once I arrived at their closed sign, for just a few seconds I wished they would have been open. Now I'm having tears of joy just thinking about a chic-fil-a within less than an hour of where i live - that would be cool; besides its really not that much fun whining when no one knows you are!

A People's History of Christianity

Last night I got to here Diana Butler Bass for the first time at the United Methodist Church were my son is on staff. Bass is an author of seven books, earned her PHD in church history from Duke University. Last night's event was the kickoff to a multiple day pastor's conference; and though I wasn't able to go to the other sessions, last nights talk was both enlightening and challenging. Bass is at present an Episcopalian layperson, and is especially interested in social justice, and telling the story of the 'church' in a way that entices people to listen. I entered the meeting equipped with pencil and pad, but became so interested I barely made any notes. Some of the things I do remember is her comments on how the church has allowed the world to hijack our story. How we have ignored the tough parts of the story, the crusades, inquisitions, etc. and thought that they would just go away rather than confront them head on and at the same time tell our story with passion. ONe note I made was that the observation was given that when the church loses its sense of history there comes a disconnect in which the world ceases to desire to listen. And far too often we try to fit theology into history rather than simply explain how theology failed in history. She made the observation that maybe the world, and atheists are wanting the church to tell the story; their condemnation of the church is in fact those invitations. I haven't read any of her books, but I now own three of them, so I am anxious to read her writings. During her speech she mentioned the anabaptist's [mennonites/amish] and that caught my attention give my current quest into my own mennonite family roots. It was a two-hour trip one way for just an hour/and a half hearing, but well worth it. The icing on the trip of course was getting to spend time with the grandkids; we went about an hour early so grandma got to spend almost three hours with grandkids and our daughter, our son going to the conference with me. He even introduced me to almost everyone there, who was on staff and attending; I was proud to be his dad, and know that he wasn't too embarrassed to introduce to people important in his life and ministry. After the conference I got to spend a few minutes speaking with Diana, and we briefly shared our religious ancestory, and that was fun, at least for me. She related that she's just found out her mother had a connection with Amy McPherson Simpson[?], who started the Foursquare movement. I truly enjoyed the evening and feel blessed that I was privileged to have it. Then at our small town ministerial fellowship this morning I shared and our Episcopalian priest, who had heard her some years back, smiled,..... there we were a Presbyterian hosting us, an Assembly brother, an Episcopalian sister and a Nazarene brother .... what a group. We truly enjoy each others company.

Women bewitch while men read!

I have never doubted the power of women to bewitch but evidently I have failed to appreciate their powers of total persuasion. An Iranian cleric proclaims that women who fail to adhere to strict laws can cause earthquakes. Now I put this prediction in the same category as Protestant clergy who proclaim that God looses natures forces on all mankind because of some people's disregard for his laws. Not that disobeying God's laws don't have severe, eternal consequences for they most certainly do to those who chose to disobey, and I am not trivializing or mocking Muslim faith ... I'm just asking 'if women have these kinds of latent powers - powers to move nature to birth certain disasters - then isn't it somewhat unwise to be so harsh in criticizing them? I really doubt that my wife has so much influence over nature, though she can be pretty bewitching, and persuasive if I attempt to push the wrong buttons.

Being a somewhat avid reader I was delighted to come across the following essay by Jon Meacham 'How To Read Like a President.' The article is quite informative and delightful. [fr.New York Times] I really like this article, and find it quite fascinating. I wonder how it would work with religious leaders, I am certain that would be a most interesting study; so I'm going to definitely save this article. After reading this article I came across another interesting piece from The Hill's
Blog Briefing Room, 'First prez owes serious book fine' by Tony Romm. Evidently our long-deceased President George Washington still has not paid a late library fee; nor did he make arrangements with those who outlived him to pay the fine. So they have sent the bill to the current President expecting him to pay the fee - go figure; oops excuse me they already have figured to the tune of more than $300,000. Normally I don't bother to read the extra comments at the end of an article but this was just too good to pass up, so here are a few of them, paraphrased of course.
..it would certainly be a good idea for President Obama to
to pardon George from having to pay the fee, and it
might secure the votes of his living relatives.
..congress can easily pay the bill, they've become experts
in bailouts!
..get a search warrant for his home in Mount Vernon
..sue his relatives
..turn it over to the Education Department, let them
figure out how to get it.
..place the article in our history books, we definitely don't
want our kids to think ole George was perfect
perhaps you have a few of your own!
Now if women are bewitching while men are reading, whose minding the store?

Green, Grateful and Groupy!

My wandering thoughts this morning have turned me green, grateful and fearful about becoming a groupy - well not the latter. My faith in humanity was a little restored when I read the story about how a scientist, from Cuba none the less, received the Goldman Environmental Global Prize. Now to those who are about as ignorant of what this prize is as I was, its a green nobel-type prize given to recipients all over the world who work to provide ways for people to sustain themselves. Scientist Humberto Rios Labrada has worked to help farmers in Cuba be able to select for themselves what crops best fit the soil on their state run farms. In a society so closed as Cuba's the fact that he is able to do this is remarkable; and he even offers them a CD to listen to while they work. Time will tell how much lee-way the Cuban government will give him; it has granted him a permission to fly to San Francisco tonight to receive the $150,000 award .... congratulations Humberto! Another article that caught my attention early this morning was 'Frayed nerves with WH press corps.' So it appears that reports who follow every step of the President are suffering bruised ego's because the President decided to give them the slip and go to watch his daughter's soccer game .... shame on him. The aggrieved reporters are warning of a 'cooling-off' in their relationship with the president if he tries to pull this slight again. Amazing since our current President has enjoyed probably the best relationship with reports since JFK! Is there not one reporter that could encourage us with a story about how one of democracies most powerful men still keeps the activities of his children a priority?....not one?? I don't very often find much to agree with with our President, but one this matter I give him a grateful cheer, and say, 'keep it up!' ... Well at last, I'm so cheered by the fact that the 'Vatican makes peace with the Beatles,' this has been nagging at me since I was 18. No, I'm not a Roman Catholic, although I do have a middle daughter and family who are. But faith just seemed to be less than complete knowing that the Vatican and the Beatles were at odds. At a time when the standards of faith need to be so clear and skillfully proclaimed we get this article, I'm thinking the Catholic faithful must be hiding their faces in shame. Here's a part of that article, 'It's true, they took drugs; swept up by their success, they lived dissolute and uninhabited lives, they even said they were more famous than Jesus, but listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless. Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still give us emotions, live on like precious jewels.' So I'm confused, is the Vatican saying that after 40yrs the meanings of the words to their songs have changed, is the Vatican now complimenting lifestyles it once criticized? is the Vatican telling us that our standards of faith need to now be more accommodating ... what in the world is it thinking? Maybe more later, have a great day!

Bits/Pieces early on a Saturday morning!

My daughter from the Big Orange in upstate New York called, and the first part of this next week she will be shipping my lost family archive papers home! Then my son, from the big city East, a couple hours away, invited me to a dinner with Diana Butler Bass this next Tuesday! Now I didn't know who Ms.Bass was so naturally I googled her. She is an independent scholar specializing in religious culture, and is also an author. She's written a number of books, a couple I'm especially interested in. Her latest is 'A People's History of Christianity: the other Side of the Story.' Her best seller so far has been 'Christianity for the Rest of US.' She blogs at the Huffington Post, [I'll excuse her that one] and her writings have appeared in everything from USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CNN, FOX, PBS and several others. She's a contributing editor for Sojourners Magazine,Christian Century and couple other publications. I am looking forward to hearing her. You may read more about her at www.dianabutlerbass.com. In reading through news headlines I came across a photo with a sign, 'My next door neighbor wants to BAN all GUNS! Their house is NOT ARMED! Out of respect for their opinion I promise NOT to use MY GUNS near their house.' The sign caught my attention as another piece of disturbing Americana; not that I'm opposed to people having guns in their home, but what I view as mocking your neighbor. In a sign of Michigan's continued slide into the federal money trough, I read this morning that the Fed. has shut down another bank in in the state. However, one article that has brightened my morning is from AP wires [Salon.com in particular] 'Cat wandered from Albuquerque to Chicago.' It seems that Charles the cat wandered 1,300 miles from his home in New Mexico to Chicago where he was picked up as a stray. Through closer inspection the Chicago Animal Care people discovered a microchip between his shoulders, and contacted his owner in Albuquerque.
Now his owner didn't have the funds to purchase a round trip ticket to Chicago and she was afraid his nine lives were about to expire. But another Albuquerque resident, hearing about the discovery, came to her rescue. This good neighbor was going to a wedding in Chicago and has said he will stop by the shelter, pick up Charles and return him to his owner. Now I ask you, 'which is the good neighbor?' ..the one who promises not to use gunpowder near his neighbor's home or the one who goes out of their way, inconveniencing themselves, to bring home a neighbor's lost property. I think I'd rather be the neighbor with the lost/found cat?!

Prof. removed from course for tough grading.

Today there is quite an interesting article about a Prof. at LSU who was removed from a freshmen introductory course for grading to severely, and not grading on a curve. Now shamefully I must admit to have been a complainer. In a master's course I finished just a year ago I too complained that the prof. was too harsh. Over the two year span I had been getting fairly high grades, and my gpa was looking pretty good, I even had dreams of special recognition. Then I hit that last course, and the prof. of this class didn't acknowledge any curves. I also shamefully admit that I thought maybe if he'd just look at how I had really been doing well in the course he might consider a small exception; but then we all rationalize exceptions when comes to us. He didn't and I am glad, because if he had my focus might have been more on the gpa instead of what I was learning. I have a lot of respect for that prof. in sticking to his principals. The author of the article I've referred to did however mention that the prof. was not docked any pay or benefits; however I am convinced that LSU has suffered because of its actions. We already have to many expecting too much. Well the article reminded me of my guilt, but also gave me hope, knowing that there are still educators out there who believe good students shouldn't have to suffer because of others, and not so good students can be motivated to better themselves.
www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/04/professor_removed_for_tough_gr.html

Don't save the scoops ..... why not?

I read a rather interesting short article today: 'Anonymous WH reporter confesses to saving info for book. www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia... The author's opening line says that 'there is an ongoing debate over whether journalists should save nuggets of news for books later on.' I wasn't aware that it was such a big issue. How many of us are always telling everything we know, and since when are we so naive as to think that every little tidbit of information is being shared. My expectations of the news media is not that they are sharing every little bit of info, but that info that is necessary to be able to make a wise choice is given. I don't really care if a reporter keeps some info for a later book, matter of fact, I like to read, and may even read their book because of it contains secret information. With the blogisphere today there is certainly less likelihood information is going to be kept in the drawer; and besides there are a lot of negatives about the information age! Sometimes ignorance is bliss in many different ways. If I am going to read a book that gives information never openly shared then I am definitely going to want to know about the author, what was his/her motivations, and what impact is the timing expected to have .... and other questions. Perhaps in our 'information-driven' age we are being conditioned to expect too much?

Servus - Kneicht ..... Soldier of Julius Ceasar ... not sooo fast?

Not too long ago I came in possession of a family history book from my mom's mom. [My grandma] The family name this history is about is 'Knecht,' which was the maiden name of my grandma's mom. Supposedly about the year 937A.D. in the city of Rome a soldier named Servus was born. Later he served under Julius Ceasar and went with him to Germany. Badly wounded in a conflict, he brought his wife from Rome, and there they had two sons which carried on the name of Knecht. These two brothers eventually served under Emperor Crollus and mad a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where they fought in battles against the Sarazones. Supposedly one brother killed the King of Sarazones in a sword duel. A later descendant served under emperor Henry IV.

Now all of this sounds fantastic; but we have to be very careful with ancestory records. The only Julius Ceasar I know in history was one of the first Roman Emperors who served from October 49BC - March 44BC; and I can find no Roman or German Emperor named Crollus. I know there was a Henry IV. But I went back through the 9 Holy Crusades, and even the Northern German crusades, and could find no mention of any Sarazones with a king killed in battle. I am really frustrated on this research, and I am not saying that its faked or false, but the facts certainly don't seem to be bearing it out, or I'm just not smart enough to find them. Regretfully after the fourth line the history is lost for a long period of time. I'm still working on it, when I can spare the time, but my frustration continues to mount in this family line. I would love to be proven wrong and find someone who can validate the facts, I don't know that this family history has ever been challenged. This experience has certainly taught me to be extremely cautious the further back in family history I go.

Hunt , Thoreau and homes.

In corresponding with a distant, distant cousin of mine I've learned that one of our ancestors, who is credited with being one of the founders of Concord,Mass. also had a home which was written about in length by Henry David Thoreau. After it was destroyed and then torn down, Thoreau wrote about it again in 'The Succession of Forest Trees,' concerning the seeds in the old cellar hole. If you would like to read the article you can find it at www.thoreau.eserver.org/foresttrees.html. I have read the article and would like to quote from it that portion that pertains to my ancestor.
'Yet I am prepared to believe that some seeds, especially small ones, may retain their vitality for centuries under favorable circumstances. In the spring of 1859, the old Hunt HOuse, so called in this town, whose chimney bore the date 1703 was taken down. This stood on land which belonged to John Winthrop, the first Governor of Massachusetts, and a part of the house was evidentally much older than the above date, and belonged to the Winthrop family. For many years I have ransacked this neighborhood for plants, and I consider myself familiar with its productions. Thinking seeds which are said to be sometimes dug up at an unusual depth in the earth, and thus to reproduce long extinct plants, it occured to me last fall that some new or rare plants might have sprung up in the cellar of this house, which had been covered from the light so long. Searching there on the 22nd of September, I found, among other rank weeds..................'

Mennonite in a little black dress!

I'm a sucker for personal memoirs; I'm sure that's why I enjoy the blogosphere so much. I just love reading about people's life stories, even more so than their political views. As I continue to work on my family[s] genealogy I am drawn ever closer to my roots, which is probably why I purchased this book last Friday at B&N. My heritage, at least on my father's side begins way back in Switzerland among those first peoples called Anabaptist, Mennonite's in particular. In her book Rhoda suffers a devastating divorce from a husband who trades her for a gay friend, and shortly after that is involved in a serious life-threatening accident. During her recoupperation she goes to stay with her mom/dad in a Mennonite community. She tells he story of what it means to go back home, to see her somewhat estranged brothers and their families, and the joy of being with her close sister and her family. She also talks about the memories that are rekindled and how some things never change. She even talks about, well not directly, how being back home has a tremendous influence on the softening of her philosophy of life and faith. It's not coincidental, or ironic, that when needing to find a safe place to recover she seeks out her roots, I think that's a natural search in most of our lives. As I mentioned earlier I'm finding myself, every day it seems, being drawn closer to my roots. As stories of my father's lineage come to light I can see a link between what I believe and how those beliefs have been in my heritage for ages: my hatred of war, any war, no matter how just we may try to rationalize it, my distaste and disapproval of capital punishment, my sincere conviction that we have done great harm to the physical planet our Creator called us to steward by our greed. I'll get off the bandwagon now. This book does contain some rather explicit, foul language, but overlooking that I enjoyed it. The author does include an appendix updating modern Mennonite culture, and there is an appendix with questions.

A week before Easter a good pastoral friend of mine called me, and in the course of the conversation mentioned an Endowment that gives pastors up to three months expenses for both him and the congregation for a sabbatical. Now the concept is almost beyond my ability to imagine, but the more I thought about it the more I thought 'why not go for it?' .. the worst is that I get refused, the blessing would be that I get accepted. My first impulse was to plan small, then I thought that's foolish if this is my one/only stab at it, go for the gold. So I'm thinking a journey of faith .... first, a short visit to Switzerland, the land of my roots, then a visit to England, there to visit sites associated with the brothers John and Charles Wesley, to Oxford and explore places where C.S. Lewis and Tolkien were, then back home to New England and explore places where puritans and Quakers inhabited. I'll take a side trip to Ohio and Mennonite/Amish country,and in the meantime also gathering information that will inform my congregation on our denominational roots. The advise I've read says that the Endowment is especially interested in my carving out 'huge' blocks of time for silence - that is going to be somewhat complicated. But just the motivation to continue cultivating my roots is enough. Have a great day, check on some roots.
Jansen, Rhoda. Mennonite in a LIttle Black Dress. New York, NY. Holt & Company PUblishers, 2009

Attachment Disorder!

They advertised the movie as a light-hearted comedy ...
I found it to be anything but!
While on vacation this past week in Upper New York my good wife and I watched a Robert DeNiro movie called 'Everybody's Fine.' It was about a widowed husband who was determined to keep the family together. He was proud that he had always been a responsible father, and pushed his children to succeed in life, and as far as he knew they all were. After none of them could come to a family reunion he decided to surprise each of them with a visit of his own. His first stop is at his oldest son's apartment in N.Y.City - he's not at home; and at his other's children's homes he finds that things just don't seem the way he's been led to believe. On his final visit to his youngest daughter's it suddenly begins to occur to him that their abruptness at his visits is not coincidental .... something is being kept from him ... there's a conspiracy to keep the truth from him. Then he has a heart attack [for he's gone on this visit against the advice of his doctor, and in an act of goodwill his medication is destroyed]It is during this heart attack that he realizes none of his children are living the success he's been led to believe, and that they are all aware, except for him, that his oldest son has died of an overdose in Mexico.
Though he has been a responsible father, his relationships with his kids is mostly lived out through his wife. The movie does have a positive ending. About half-way through it my wife asked me, 'are you enjoying this movie,' and I replied, 'I hate it.' My reply came from a fear that DeNiro could be playing me, I hope not! What DeNiro discovers in the positive ending is that what he did in the latter part of the movie should have been done all along. It's a good movie and I'll not share the end here - its a good movie for a mom/dad date night!! The incident that most spoke to me was when DeNiro's was spending time with his youngest daughter [his last visit] and he asked if she had succeeded in her dream, and she turned the question on him, 'had he achieved his personal dream in life,' and he replied he never had a dream except to be a providing father. I found that answer rather shallow; noble to some perhaps that he sacrificed everything just to provide for his family, yet although it certainly was noble of him to be a good, responsible provider, the absence of a dream caused him to have strained relationships. ENJOY.


By now most people have heard of the adoption of a Russian boy by a couple in Shelbyville, Tenn. and the boy being sent back to Russia on a plane. My first response is that of most people, how dare the parents do that? Upon closer examination of the story I don't know but what my response is not the same, only less judgmental. It is alleged that the boy had severe behavior problems - hence -
attachment disorder! But as I was reading the article I wondered who had the attachement disorder ... just the boy - or the boy and his new parents? I've always thought that adoption had a 'specialness' about it. The decision to 'chose' to love someone always seemed equal if not more than loving because biology dictated it. Of course the grandmother contended that the Russian authorities had lied to get rid of the boy, but I don't find that an excuse for just shipping him back. If its true that this child had behavioral problems in learning accept love, how much more will he now be less inclined to accept acts of love? It is indeed a complex situation, but I don't think running from it, especially after, regardless of how much your lied to, you've reached out and accepted him. It will be interesting to follow the case and perhaps the trial that follows. I always want my love to go beyond whatever circumstances may come; the good wife and I have certainly weathered some rough storms but we've been blessed and all three of our grown children are our best friends.

Blessed beyond measure....

Most of you who are reading this entry will remember the prior one where all my genealogy papers were stolen by thieves who thought they were getting my laptop .... well when we arrived home last night there was a message from the police department in the N.Y. city we were visiting relatives. My computer bag had been thrown in a garbage can [just as we suspected when they found there was no computer] and the neighbor took the bag out and took it to the police station! I don't know how many or what kind of shape they are in, but I am so blessed ... so this Monday I will call the Records dept. at the police station, give them my daughter's name, and then she will be able to pick them up and send them to me! I am so blessed; and I must also admit I have never had the kind of compassion I should have when people have lost material things, now I know the anguish of losing memories and keepsakes ... and I have been fortunate to have them returned to me!

Shinny Dipping!

Well, they didn't get what they were looking for, and all I ended up with was a busted rear passenger window! It was a quick hit, they broke the window, unlocked the door, and took the brief case and ran; fortunately I had left my laptop at home, and if I had had it with me I wouldn't have left it overnight in the car. There were some things of much more value than a laptop they left in the car, [plus it had all my family ancestory research, on both my dad and mom's side in it - some clear back to the 1500's plus my favorite worn Bible (maybe one of them will read it?!)], I now have a new appreciation for those who lose personal items and memories that are stolen. However, I can conclude two things, first, God certainly had angels watching over us, and those were not real bright thieves. After inquiring into what it was going to take to get the window reparied and our time travel schedule only delayed a couple of hours, my wife found out that our 'traveler's insurance' would pay for the window replacement after our $50 deductable; even the boss at her work was surprised by that - and they both work for the Insurance Company! Well after we got the car to the dealer, we all packed into my daughter's van [We're in the big Orange City in Upper New York] and drove to a lake community about an hour away. We took pictures and had a good time hiking when we finally decided to sit by the lake and take a break. Some [well all] the grand kids started playing among the rocks and seeing how close they could get to 'not' getting wet, and I decided to take up the challenge also. The only problem is I'm considerably older and got my foot stuck between a couple little rocks and went down, in slow motion. Now I have a couple nice rainbow colored spots on my arm and leg to remind me that sometimes it easier to cheer people on rather than participate. To top the day my good wife decided she would not be outdone, and so stopping to let the ladies off at the curb at Wal-Mart, she took the plunge, never quite getting her feet situated she tumbled. But after spending last night in a resort we always stay at on this trip up north, and spending time in the jacuzie and sauna room she's feeling a lot better, although I'm sure she's hurting, just not complaining because she feel mostly on the side she has a bad hip and she also hit some disc's that are hurting her in her back. The grandkids are doing well and it was a joy to be with them; although I didn't care much for their cat, I tolerated it. The second night we stayed with them I fixed penne and hamburger/ragu; and of course in the morning I had to walk with 'Joe' to the bakery across the street from where they live for fresh donuts.
Well today we conclude our trip home and pray God's continuing traveling mercies.

EASTER!!

This is the DAY! I got up early this morning and left the house without waking a grandchild, went to the only store open at this hour in town and bought my coffee and
went to the office. As I was driving to the store my mind reflected on the Easter bunnies left for the grandkids - cute on the outside but hollow inside! Yet that's kinda appropriate on Easter, for the tomb we know was empty. Only I hope that I'm never empty the risen Lord on the inside. In a few hours we'll start our celebrations with a sunrise service, although the sun will have risen much earlier and then we'll eat breakfast together before the AM worship. I'm sure we'll be much more comfortable and well fed than the women were when they went to the tomb, and we're not coming to anoint anyone's body, rather we're coming to be anointed by he who placed in a tomb. But what an experience that must have been for Mary Magdalene. Everyone had gone home, she was left there alone, except for the gardener; then when she's asked why she's there, she replies she's searching for the body of her Lord. Two things about this passage have always left me with searching myself. FIRST, she doesn't call him rabbi, teacher, lord or anything, she just says 'him,' - three times according to the NASB! Is this intentional by the author? Is it referring to the 'transition' in roles the risen Christ is wanting to have? Or is it simply taken for granted we know who she's referring to? To most it may not seem that significant, but to me it matters. Earlier in the same story as JOseph requests Jesus body from Pilate Jesus' name is used... SECOND, Mary asks the 'gardener' where he has placed the body of Jesus so she might take it away .. is she proposing that she herself, alone, will take the body? - and where is it that she would be taking it? There is something about that request, that if we will ponder it seems to raise more questions than answers ... yet isn't that the way our relationship with the risen Christ should be, more questions than answers, for when we get more answers than questions our relationship with 'him' begins to dull. May you have the bestest Easter celebration ever! I leave with all the questions to celebrate because the greatest question is already answered!

This mornings Easter message will center on the CROSS - the power of the CROSS.
..the CROSS is the Centre of our faith [1 Cor.1:17; 2:1-5]
..the CROSS is about Forgiveness
Celebrating COMMUNION!
..the CROSS is the gift that never stops Giving
..the CROSS is about Freedom
the cry of the Revolutionary War was: 'No King but Jesus'
..the CROSS points to our Future
'The way of the CROSS leads home' [hymn by Jessie Pounds]
..the CROSS wants to be our Compass!
HAPPY EASTER!

EXCUSE ME - OKAY!

I just had a rather unique experience in an almost everyday occurence. As I was rounding a corner, in the hallway at the hospital, I almost bumped into a lady, I said 'excuse me mam,' and she replied, 'Okay!' Now what is so unusual about that you ask. Usually when someone says, 'excuse me,' I and others reply something like, 'that's alright,' or 'no big deal, or something similar instead of acknowledging the persons apology. It was a blessing to have my apology acknowledged for what it was instead of devaluing it, as I'm prone to do, by some flippant reply. I almost wanted to hug that woman and tell her how much I appreciated it; that would in turn place me in a hospital bed. And since I was there to visit someone else, I had no desire to become an occupant myself. Its amazing how its the small things in life, that we take so much for granted can become true blessings, if we'll just let them. Have a good Easter. The 'daughter-in-law,' [you know come to think about it, I kinda really dislike that definition also ... in-law; she's my daughter, I'd do anything for her just like the other kids, and love her just as much] and the grandkids are coming over for today and tomorrow from the Big City East. Gram already has me running little errands before they get here - I love those honey-do lists!

GOOD FRIDAY!

What's so good about a day on which your hero, the one you follow is crucified? Well, anytime in your life when someone helps to lighten your day, or lift a burden from you, don't you thank them? What a burden was lifted from followers of Christ on that day .... it was one of the greatest, grandest, goodest[I know its not an official word!] days in the history of mankind. Now those who want no part of the rescue can't see it as such, such as the Iowa town that attempted to rename Good Friday as 'Spring Holiday!' www.abcnews.go.com/US/iowa-town-renames-good-friday/story?id=10233061. Now I wonder if any of our politically correct namers ever considered that fact that other countries don't water down their holidays to accomodate us, or include our faith holidays in their agendas as we're expected to in ours; and please don't give me this 'we're suppose to be better than them, or more understanding bull. The Davenport Civil Rights Commission decided to change the name to something more ecumenical ... now just in case you're wondering, the word 'ecumenical' is mostly applied to all faiths [denominations] coming together, but in this instance that's not the case. Even Labor was upset, not for any spiritual reason but because they might lose a holiday! Their reason was to reflect their diversity, how about leaving it Good Friday to represent the 'unity' God was desiring to bring about?! Oh well, Good Friday prevailed in the end, just as it has since that original day.

Last night I bought, and read, a book by Anne Tyler. She's a rather popular author, with 18 novels, one was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and probably has a huge base of readers, so if you're one of them don't be offended by my critic. After the first chapter I was ready to lay the book aside, it seemed to be rather tedious, but there was something that wouldn't let me put it down. Maybe it was that the main character Liam was my same age, maybe it was that Liam was beginning to admit that some of his physical facilities were lagging [didn't like that], maybe it was that
he had a dogged determination, in this last stage of his life to make it really count[I'm there!]; whatever it was I kept reading. Around the middle of the book, after two what he called 'failed marriages,' he falls in love with a lady 20yrs younger than himself. Later though he finds out she is in an unhappy marriage. Now according to this lady's thoughts, which perfectly mirror our culture's thoughts, and Liam's fathers, an affair that brings happiness is perfectly okay. And wouldn't it be a wonderful way to salvage the rest of his life in happiness, which up to this point had been a failure to his real interests? Strangely it is through a relationship that develops between his grandson that Liam begins to find the compass for the rest of his life, one that is not so much about his immediate happiness as it is 're-bonding' both with his family and between members of his family. This novel is not much in the way of excitement and entertainment, for it delves deeper into the consequences of the things we do on a daily basis. And perhaps not so much just how the consequences affect me as they do those who love/associate with me. Maybe that's what attracts fans to Anne? Maybe its because I associated so much with the stage of life, and maybe I need to worry about being able to 'lighten' someone else's load, bear someone else's burden? Undoubtedly I need to study my compass more often.
TYLER, ANNE. Noah's Compass. Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, New York
www.aaknopf.com ISBN: 9780307272409 2009

Passover!

Since the Jewish sabbath is on Saturday, the passover took place on Thursday, not Good Friday as we gentiles often celebrate it. Passover was a time when the greatest story in Jewish history was retold - their deliverance from Egypt as they crossed the Red Sea. Jesus was preparing his disciples for the greatest deliverance of human history as they ate passover together. I wonder what was going through his mind as they shared that meal, and the disciples talked about the past significance of everything they were eating, and the anticipation in Jesus' mind as perhaps he's thinking, just wait until this meal is finished, and then SURPRISE, I'm adding a new ending. An ending that points to a brand new future - an ending that explains what my mission among you has truly been about - an ending that has no end. Then he shared with them the bread and the cup; what did that unleavened bread and sweet wine taste like to Jesus, knowing the reality awaiting beyond the symbolic meaning? What would it be like to take on my sin and yours, that antithesis to everything holy? Sin had never entered the relational realm between him and the rest of the Trinity. This would be a seperation only planned but never experienced ... so much about this being human that stunk; yet it was necessary, he had gone too far, there was not turning back .... just maybe the Father might have something else in store he wasn't aware of?? then again, maybe not! Later, he'd take the disciples to the garden, where he loved to pray when in the area, and there he'd seek out the Father's
mind, maybe it wasn't so much to see if he was still on track as it was to see if the Father had had second thoughts?! Second thoughts in the Trinity, that's a strange concept, seems to only have happened once with Moses....