Corporate (corporate?) Stupidity

OMG! Just when I think that we (Americans) might have turned the corner and started to become a bit more reasonable (or at least less idiotically reactionary) I read a story like this one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7427206.stm?lsm . It seems like we actually desire to be ruled over by the stupidest people we can find (i.e. Ms Malkin--see the story link above). But, thank God that our media does their job in fueling this ignorance by creating a story where none should exist. How else would we ever be able to root out and destroy these hideous plots by subversives and terrorists. And, finally, where would we be except hopelessly lost without the keen decision-making prowess of the courageous souls in charge of corporations like Dunkin Donuts? How would they ever survive if the entire readership of such a tower of intellectualism as Ms Malkin were to suddenly refuse to purchase their deep-fried treats? Think of the economic chaos if several dozen neo-stupid, overweight extremists switched from Dunkin to Krispy Kreme. We could be plunged into civil war and anarchy (well, the anarchy could be fun).

Thank you, Dunkin Donuts. Thank you, Ms Malkin. Dear God, please help us.

As a follow up to the previous post, my older daughter has been one of the kids trying to defuse the anger and disgruntlement (is that even a word?). She has gotten a bit frustrated a couple of times--a natural part of the process. The cool thing is that she's trying to work through it and keep loving people. Mistakes are part of the journey; it's how we learn. But she's doing well with this situation. She's becoming a young woman, a leader. I'm proud of her.

Mirror Image

I have been a spectator recently of a bit of drama that is developing within the youth ministry at our church. A small but vocal minority of students have begun to speak out with great rancor and venom about the things within the ministry that displease them. How quaint. As an observer, I have been alternately proud and ashamed; proud to see how many of the students have been supportive of their ministery and their minister and how they've tried to keep a dialogue going with a background of love; and ashamed to see how well our kids have learned to imitate their parents' tendencies within the church. (This is obviously true of one particular kid who is the instigator).

We have argued and vilified one another in the name of due diligence to protect our liturgical preferences and doctrinal positions until our children see it as their birthright to act similarly. Can we be satisfied with this legacy? But, there are glimpses of greater things; students who want to find the Godly solution. They can seem a bit clumsy at it in their youth--we all remember what it's like to have only the desire to rush in and start fixing things regardless of if it's all higledy pigledy. The sad truth, though, is that their efforts seem clumsy because they haven't really had a good example to follow.

It's not too late to change our legacy. It's never too late to love one another...they will know we are his disciples by our love for one another (John 13).

Pray for peace.
Mike

No Place Like Home

Do you ever have those moments when nostalgia rushes in on you and covers you up like a hot wind? It starts with being a little homesick; maybe it was triggered by a song lyric or a vague memory. Then it kind of swells up inside of you with adrenaline and an almost overwhelming desire to just break and run; dump everything you're doing, pack what fits in the back of your truck and just take off. Most people, especially women, don't understand what it means to a man to be respected and liked by the men he knows. And that's especially true when what you grew up knowing and valuing in life was the rougher things--backing your buddy's play, standing your ground, knowing you could survive almost anything, knowing you could take a life if that's what it took to protect those you love. How do you explain that so that it makes sense to someone who never felt it? How do you translate the feeling you had sitting on a tailgate on a dirt road with your best friends in the world--simple, honest, strong friends who all loved each other without ever having to say it--singing at the top of your lungs or laughing together about something stupid with a long-neck beer in your hand? How do you mourn the loss of that feeling? How do you quell the anger at the fear you feel knowing you may never have that feeling again? What's the cure for the blues you get when you feel like you're looking back at more of your life than you're looking forward to?

I can't answer all of those questions, but there are some things I know about me that are just as important. There's nothing like the pride of being the father of daughters. Daughters who love God and have hearts that break for people who are in need. There's nothing like the feeling that swells in a dad's heart when his little girl (who isn't really little any more) stands on a stage and sings a song so beautifully that angels walk away with their heads down. What can compare to looking into the face of a girl whose outlook on life is so pure and excited that it's impossible not to be uplifted when she's around? What in life could match the realization that a woman has loved you enough to stay true for over 20 years--and not nearly all of them have been easy for her?

Well......damn. Seems like life has more questions than answers. Who would have thought?

Fox News

Is it just me or should the people at Fox News be smacked in the mouth with a wet fish?

If you think it's just me, then turn off your TV, read a newspaper (a real one) and start making up your own mind, not taking the rantings of the most biased, quasi fascist, so-called 'Fair and Balanced' media center in the country as gospel. You can get a better idea of what's really going on with an issue by watching Weekend Update on SNL. I'm surprised they haven't offered that pig, Rush Limbaugh his own 'news' show.

This just in...God is not a Republican, or a Democrat, or a Libertarian, etc., etc., etc.

Jim Wallis Quote

Followers of the Prince of Peace should be the hardest to convince to go to war, never the easiest. We should require the highest measure of proof from our government that a particular war is "necessary and just," not the lowest. Final judgment over whether or not a war is just should never be left to governments. It should be left to the moral discernment of the global body of Christ.

Various

Dang! I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since my last post. The new job was still brand new then. In fact, I think I was in Atlanta at the time. I'm in Chicago this week and back in Atlanta again next week. Quite a whirlwind, but not unmanageable.

We got some sobering news a couple of weeks ago at church. Our pastor of 15 years is leaving for a new job. He's going to be dean of the undergrad school at Midwest Seminary. It's a great gig for him. He's a teacher at heart and I'm sure he'll do well and be very happy. It leaves a big hole for us to fill, though. By all accounts it takes a year or better for a church the size of ours to select a new pastor. I'm interested and scared to see how it all develops. Good groundwork has been laid in the past couple of years that should help us avoid some of the explosivity that can come with this type of disruption. We have a lot of different-thinking groups within the church in terms of worship style, philosophy of ministry, opinions on small groups vs Sunday school, youth ministry, children's ministry, etc. It's easy to imagine these differences becoming very divisive in the absence of leadership at the top. The staff we have is great, but they will have their hands full keeping all of the plates spinning.

It's interesting that when I heard the news it never occured to me to hope for the job for myself. After all, as impossible as it would be for me to get (not enough letters behind my name--like MDiv or PhD), it still seems like something that would at least stir something; some desire. One thing it might do is give me a shot at one of the openings that currently exist on the staff, but those will likely be left for the new pastor to fill once he comes in next year. We'll see--very likely another long shot.

Sandi thinks I should be on the pastor search committee. I wouldn't mind it, but I don't think I have the right political ties within the church to land a spot. I probably don't have the right politics at all, come to think of it. It's a crapping shame that those kinds of things come into play within the church, but you have to be pretty stupid not to see that they exist. It makes me really tired sometimes, but I actually feel pretty relaxed with the role I play right now. I am disappointed that I haven't had any chances to speak or preach in a while. I've asked friends in various places to chat me up with churches or groups who might need a fill-in once in a while, but nothing has come of it. Folks are just busy, I guess.

Pray for peace.

Mike