Memorial Day

Over the course of our nation's history, millions have sacrificed so much that we remain free. They do so today, as well.

Increasingly, there is a gap between those who serve in the military and the leadership class. Without a draft, this gap likely to continue for many years to come.

And it is striking how virtually the entire Republican boomer leadership class avoided serving in a war they supported. The Moose experienced an ironic moment several years ago at a conservative tribute to Reagan where all the speakers celebrated the defeat of Communism. However, the only speaker on the podium who had actually fought commies was McCain, and he was the object of the conservative leaders' ire.

-- The Bull Moose

Waste not, want not.

The grand reason why the miraculous gifts were so soon
withdrawn was not only that faith and holiness were well-nigh
lost, but that dry, formal, orthodox men began then to
ridicule whatever gifts they had not themselves and to cry
them all [down] as evil madness or imposture.
-- John Wesley (1703-1791)

Doing and Obeying

Humanly speaking, it is possible to understand the Sermon on the Mount in a thousand different ways. But Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience - not intrepreting or applying it, but doing and obeying it. That is the only way to hear his words. He does not mean for us to discuss it as an ideal. He really means for us to get on with it.

- Dietrich Bonehoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

The Six Marks of Discipleship for the Changing Church

1. Pray daily.
2. Worship weekly.
3. Read the Bible.
4. Serve at and beyond your local church.
5. Be in relationship with others to encourage spiritual growth.
6. Give of my time, talent, and resources.

- Michael W. Foss

Give a shit.

Dr. Tony Campolo once said to a nationwide gathering of Evangelical Christians (paraphrased): "In the time it takes me to speak this sentence, another child will die of malnutrition... and the Church just doesn't give a shit. What's worse, more of you are outraged that I just said 'shit' than that another child has just died."

Click the headline.

Anselm believed, so that he might understand. I am believed, that I might exist.

Before I became a committed Christian, I believed in God, but I can’t say I believed in the same god that Jesus called his father. I believed in this vague, “god-thing” that was quite flexible on my end, and unknowable on its end. I was a Christian only because I was raised an Episcopalian (baptized at three months, confirmed at twelve years).

I believed in God, but I had no sense that God believed in me.

When I came convinced of that… that God believed in me, knew me, cared about me and took an active interest in my life… then I became a real Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. God believed in me first.