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Tragedy in France: Framing our Thinking

Martyrdom of James the Greater
Martyrdom of James the Greater

Yesterday, Tuesday July 26, a Roman Catholic Priest, Father Jacques Hamel was murdered while conducting mass at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. The two perpetrators were connected with ISIS. They forced the 84 year old Father Hamel to kneel at the altar before they slit his throat, attempting to behead him. Through his death, Father Hamel joins the glorious company of the martyrs, about whom it is written:

For this reason they are before the throne of God
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
-Revelation 7:15-17

Continue reading “Tragedy in France: Framing our Thinking”

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Why the PP response doesn’t assuage me

Yesterday I put something out on twitter that was my reaction to the recently released video of a Planned Parenthood official discussing the harvest and sale of aborted babies’ body parts. I do not usually enter these sorts of things on social media as I find them counter productive almost all of the time. Furthermore, I do not want to alienate folks who have had abortions or have had girlfriends or family members have abortions. I actually am of the opinion that the woman is a victim in this procedure as well, and I believe that statics showing health and emotional risks more than bear me out on that.

Anyway, from time to time I feel that as a pastor I do need to try to offer some commentary on issues such as these, so I simply shared that the video literally made me feel ill.

Today there are articles written by media who seem to be acting as the mouthpiece for Planned Parenthood that are coming to the defense of the organization. Here is one such article. Continue reading “Why the PP response doesn’t assuage me”

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In Which I Make My Own Bold Predictions!

I’m glad that not many of the people in our congregation have not heard or, or at least wondered about Harold Camping. We will, audaciously enough, gather together on May 22 and worship, as we do every Sunday, despite Camping’s claims that we are apostate for being a part of a “church,” and despite Camping’s claims that the end of the world and the rapture will most certainly occur on May 21, 2011. I’ll even prepare a sermon for that day, despite claims that Jesus will certainly return rapture his true church (people who follow Harold Camping, but who are not in a “church”) on Saturday. I know, I’m just that gutsy.

I will be even more bold. Here are a few of my own predictions:
Continue reading “In Which I Make My Own Bold Predictions!”

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Reactions to Bin Laden and thoughts on zombies

This morning I received an email from a friend and parishioner that included a link to a new house design, with a note that said, “Hey Pastor, I thought you would enjoy this zombie proof house.” In the end, that email may tell you more about me than anything, but I thought it was interesting to receive that link this morning as we in the United States react to the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden.

I guess I should set some things straight first. I do not think Osama was simply misunderstood, or really a decent guy once you got to know him. He was an evil guy. He did evil things. I think if he were here in my house he would want me dead along with my family. He was a bad dude. I have no thoughts to the contrary. It was not bad enough that he masterminded the attacks on September 11, 2001, but he used other people as human bombs, and hid behind his money and connections. In other words, he is a great enemy. He is like exhibit “A” in terms of the word “enemy,” which is really quite an accomplishment in today’s postmodern, relativistic milieu. In fact, if anyone ever taught anything that we ought to do in regards to our enemies, then perhaps this guy, Osama, ought to come to mind, because he most certainly was our enemy. But, of course, you can probably see where that is going. Continue reading “Reactions to Bin Laden and thoughts on zombies”