Unthinking, unfeeling "Christians"

Once again, I'm reminded that there are those who claim to follow the Prince of Peace, by flaming the fires of hate, bigotry and war! Yes, I just read about a fundamentalist church planning to burn the Quran on their church property, no doubt claiming it is an act of free speech, totally oblivious to the harm they put US troops in, and probably without a thought to how outraged they would be if militant Muslim in another part of the world burned a Bible.

Seriously, how can one claim to be a disciple of Jesus and blatantly disregard the teachings of the Master? How can so called educated Westerners continue to act like backwater bumpkins whose only concern is how to make themselves look more foolish and stupid, no matter who will pay the price? Perhaps the members of said "church," and I use the word loosely, should be conscripted en mass and sent to the Taliban infested areas of Afghanistan to serve right along side the very troops they are willing to jeopardize to inflame anti-US and anti-Christian sentiment.

It is truly time for Christians to practice the teachings of the Master, not the genocidal rantings of a people bent on conquest and annihilation. I realize the Jewish people of any day are as varied as any other group, but their history through the biblical account is one of war, to conquer the Promised land by wiping out those who were there before them, or as other groups sought to conquer them. I've had very good and close friends who were Jewish that are as baffled as most of the rest of us about the continued settling of Palestinian lands even while the rhetoric of peace is bandied about in political circles.

God is God for all, where called Great Spirit, the Almighty, Allah, or some other name. God is bigger than our human tendencies to try to cramp the Creator into a box and label it ours and ours alone. No human camp of thought or belief holds a monopoly on God. It is time we grew up, recognized our similarities and use them to improve this planet we were given as a home, to be stewards of, caretakers, co-creators with God Almighty, sisters and brothers with the Prince of Peace.

Peace!

Extremism

I'm realizing that I'm proudly part of this nation's political system called at different times progressive, liberal, "socialist." I believe that our country was founded on the principle that a person was free to determine their own faith stance, and not have to worry about a group in power dictating whether or not they could practice that faith - and yes, I also believe there are limits that are rightfully placed on that freedom. I believe that extremism in ANY of it's varied forms is wrong - be it Islamic, Jewish, Christian, or related to the birth gifts of an individual someone doesn't like (if they even know nothing about that person).

This morning I noted a news story about one of our nation's law enforcement organizations raiding the facilities of Christian militia - with the notation that one of those raided sites had called another to seek a hiding site. Now, why are you calling for a hiding place, IF you aren't doing something wrong? If the police showed up at my apartment and demanded to search, I would step back, because I know I'm doing nothing that would get me in trouble.

I keep listening to the political pundits from the right, yelling about the Islamic extremists, and defending home-grown terrorists who have decided murder is justifiable to support their particular politico-religious point of view. I don't care if it is someone who fires a rocket blindly into Israel, who uses tanks to destroy the homes of innocents because they SUSPECT the homes are being used for attacks, who put pipe bombs in a plaza filled with people celebrating the human spirit and enjoying the athletic endeavors of the best of the best, or someone who uses a high powered rifle or hand gun to shoot that "damned" abortion doctor - extremism is extremism, and it is wrong.

I've worked hand in hand with Jews, Christians and Muslims to address social issues in more than one of the churches I've served over my 30+ years of pastoral ministry, and found them all to be people of faith, concern and a desire for a better life. I've worked with so-called straight, gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals - again finding them just as appalled by those of any of those persuasions who abuse they positions of power to abuse persons under their care.

Face it, people, there are good and bad in every group, every nation, every persuasion. So, let's stop acting like only "my" point of view is valid, only "my" faith perspective is right. If we learn to work together, we will find a lot of this nation's problems being answered as they were meant to be answered.

Peace!

Almost there, almost there

That line from Star Wars IV seems particularly appropriate as I move toward the opening of the new Walgreen's store. I worked a lot ( a lot!) over the last two days. Tomorrow I will have a mandatory meeting to attend, but I'm off - and I intend to take it easy! I'm finding out that when you are willing to step in where and when you are needed, respect comes readily from all one's co-workers, even to joking with you about sloughing off!

I've earned the respect of the district team, the respect of my co-workers at the store, and the respect of my supervisory crew. Now I need to translate that to the relationship with our customers. You see Walgreen's hold firmly that customer service is job number one. We are to make sure the phone is answered by the third ring, stop what you are doing and help the customer in the aisle with you, and do all you can to solve a person's concern. We've joked that with all the stocking we have been doing, we should be able to walk to nearly any item in the store upon request!

Respect, that which is becoming a scarce commodity in our time. One is too busy, too focused on "me" to note that someone around us might need some help. One doesn't want to be involved with the difficulties of those others. Yet -

My beloved and I have found that there are always people with the need for a listening ear, respect for that other as a person, and a willingness to put ourselves out a bit to help. That has proven to be a winning combination in being able to help others.

Think about it!

Peace!