Trying to finish column for the church newsletter...

(Lord, help me write this article.)
In Flannery O’Connor’s short story "Revelation," Ruby Turpin is sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, evaluating each person around her. Ruby judges herself to be superior, by more than a grade or two, to everyone there, especially to a poor, unkempt, teenaged wretch seated across from her who is reading a book. Ruby thinks it sad that the girl’s parents did not groom her more attractively. Perish the thought of having a child as scowling as this one. No, scratch that one.
(God, pleeease send an idea my way.)
The gospel expresses a depth of love that is more radical and more inclusive than the fragile relationships we mere mortals are ever able to create. In matters related to Christian relationships, we are always called to struggle for a depth of love and acceptance that reflects the amazing inclusivity of God's love. No, not it.
(What word, O Lord, do you want me to say for your people?)
Calling it "way better than a laptop, way better than a phone," Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled his company's long-awaited iPad tablet-style multi-touch device Wednesday, calling it more intimate than a laptop and more capable than a smartphone… No, no, no…definitely not.
(Perhaps you want me to write about some timely, relevant issue like…)
In the April 13, 2009 issue of Newsweek, the cover story was “The End of Christian America” stating that the “percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 points in the past two decades”. No, not that’s not it…
(Prayer, reading the Bible, loving one another are topics that folks always seem to like.)
According to a Jan. 26, 2010 UMNS report “Food. Potable water. Shelter. Those are the top needs a group of 29 church and community leaders told three executives from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Asked which is the most important, the group said all three…” No, too much…
(Of course the most popular ones are funny stories about children or bulletin bloopers.)
In Luke 4:18 Jesus said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
(There he goes again with all that stuff about the poor and downtrodden, the sick, and the captives. What does he expect me to do?)
“Say that again, Lord. You expect me to do what? You’re kidding right?”

Today's sermon

My sermon today was entitled "Life's Persistent Questions", with thanks to Guy Noir, private eye on Prairie Home Companion. It was an attempt to respond to the persistent question of why God "allows" or "causes" or "sends" disasters, tragedies, pain and suffering. I broke no new theological ground but attempted to affirm God's presence in the midst of tragedy and suffering as well as admit there is a mysterious element to God's presence and activity in our world. In other words, there's no ultimately satisfactory answer to the "why" question. It probably is not even the right question, but it's the one that invariably pops up. And sometimes, in asking questions, we discover some truth about ourselves and God.

I occasionally feel like Kierkegaard who wrote that many great minds of his century had given themselves to making people's lives easier by inventing labor-saving machines and devices. He said that he would dedicate himself to making people's lives more difficult. He would become a preacher.

Sometimes life is just hard, challenging and difficult. I believe our God cares greatly and deeply about what happens to us, is present in and among us, and uses us to embrace, share and love others who are suffering. More can be said but at least that's one hook on which I can hang my hat.

Prayer to close four nights at the hospital...

Lord it is night. The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God. It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done. Let it be. The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you. The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace. The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities. In your name we pray. Amen (from the New Zealand Prayer Book)

For an interesting video by saintnonsbay with "paintings by Marc Chagall and chant from the 12th Century French composer Perotin are an unusual but rich setting" for this prayer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx1NYyrwRwM

I found the link to this prayer on The Homily Blog at http://homilyblog.blogspot.com/

Hail Mary, anyone?

Why Another Blog...?

Perhaps it has to do with working at nights. My wife thinks I over-process things (though she would never use those words). Maybe I am overly curious. I wonder a lot about why people do and say the things they do, and conversely the things they don't do and don't say. I was taught in divinity school that all truth is God's truth. So I guess I figured I always have a lot more to learn.

I am married to my high school sweetheart. We have two beautiful daughters, one son-in-law, one boyfriend, and two spoiled rescue dogs (down from the original menagerie of three (different) dogs, a cat, parakeet, and ferret). I have been blessed in more ways than I can enumerate or express.

I am a United Methodist clergy, a staff chaplain at the Medical University of South Carolina, a supply pastor for a small but active local congregation, a person constantly surrounded and involved in the often messy aspects of people's lives who longs for the solitude and serenity of being on or near the lake, in the forest or mountains, standing in a river trying to fool a fish into biting a lure that really doesn't look like a bug.

I hope you find some things here that interest you or cause you to stop and think if only for a moment or sends you off in your own direction. I used to call myself one of the last yellow dog Democrats (this is SC) but now I think I'm just more of an old yellow dog, scratching this, sniffing at that, and growling a little now and then. I still believe my heart is "slightly left of center" but no longer believe politicians have the wherewithal to serve the public good; they seem to all start out wanting to do good but end up doing well (which is certainly true of preachers). As my old camp counselor and preacher Brother Jim Grigsby said: "Money makes liars of us all." He never served a tall steepled church but he sure was a wise man.

If you've taken the time to read this, thanks.
Peace and blessings.
Reggie

Who knew? You surprised? I'm not!

I took this quiz "What's Your Theological Worldview" at http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/Theology/svensvensven/whats-your-theological-worldview/ and the result:

You Scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 82%
Emergent/Postmodern 68%
Neo orthodox 64%
Roman Catholic 61%
Modern Liberal 43%
Charismatic/Pentecostal 36%
Classical Liberal 29%
Reformed Evangelical 21%
Fundamentalist 0%

One View of Massachusetts Election