Holy New Zealand Cow!

Word is that there are several...maybe hundreds...of icebergs headed toward the coast of New Zealand! They have broken free from the polar ice and are being carried by the current to a place they ought not be going. Further evidence of global climate change, for sure.
Imagine the following conversation:
She (as breakfast is being prepared for the both of them): What does the weather look like today?
He: (smelling the brewing coffee and looking out the back door window): Well, it looks like a fine day out there. The view down the hill is clear today.
She: (taking her first sip of that coffee and beginning to really wake up): Can you see the beach?
He: (accepting from her his morning cup of joe): Sure can. Looks like a good day for a swim, maybe. (Pause.) Holy New Zealand Cow!
She: What? What is it? Are you alright?
He: There are icebergs out there! Icebergs! Dozens of them! Oh man, one just destroyed Johnson's fishing boat!
She: Take a drink of your coffee and wipe the sleep from your eyes. You're seeing things.
As for me, here in Central Indiana, for the first time in my life, I am thankful I don't live near a beach!!!

I Wish You Hadn't Told Me That

The U.S. is now on course to begin court trials for some of those persons detained for years in the military installation at Guantanamo Bay. The Gitmo prisoners are, no doubt, a collection of folk who were involved in the really nasty 9/11 events, and some folks swept up in our response to those events who may be innocent. We haven't known if this is true, about there being a mix of guilty and innocent folk at Gitmo, because we have refused to give those folk their "day in court" for several years now.
But the trials will be getting underway. Emotions will run high. People on the "right" and the "left" will be weighing in on what to make of the results that will be arrived at. There will be no end to the debate as to whether or not those tried in a civil court should have been tried in a military court. Much will be argued for and against ordering the death penalty for those accused of terrible crimes.
And, we will most likely learn some things about ourselves as a country that we might wish we hadn't been told. Torture ("Enhanced Interrogation Techniques", some say)and very inhumane activities will be discussed in a public forum.
Even more than "I wish you hadn't told me that!", "I wish we hadn't done that!"

Tragedy Times Two

Over the course of the past two days, November 5th and 6th, two mass shooting tragedies have taken place. At Fort Hood in Texas and again at a high riseoffice building in Orlando, Florida, two lone gunmen blasted their ways into our national news headlines. Along with every other person I know of, I am saddened by the two events and prayerful for those who have been killed and those who have been wounded.
Much will be written, broadcast and speculated about these happenings over the next days and weeks. Very much.
I do not know what the motives of the two shooters were. I do not in any way excuse the evil they have visited on innocent persons. But I do once again wonder at why it continues to be so easy and so acceptable for persons to purchase and own and carry firearms in this country.
Most likley individuals who seek to do harm to others would find alternative ways to do that harm if guns were not so readily accessible, but because guns are so readily accessible doing harm is that much more readily accessible, as well.

Long Season Down to a Handful of Games

The professional baseball season began back in very early April (following a month or so of spring training and games in Florida and Arizona). Some of the early games were postponed due to snow, in places like Denver and Minnesota and Cleveland. Now, late in the season, at least one of the playoff games was rescheduled because of snow in Denver. Some of the playoff games in New York have been played in temperatures in the upper thirties. Its a long 6 month, one hundred sixty-two game season.
Now the playoffs are over in the National League and the Yankees need to win only one more game for the American League playoffs to come to a close. And then, the World Series starts! Its probably only at this time of year that baseball is still "the national pastime."
I can still remember listening to the World Series games on a transistor radio during study hall back in my high school days. I remember the time the principal of our high school had several television sets set up in the gym so that we could watch the Chicago White Sox (his team) play the Los Angeles Dodgers. Some of my best kidhood memories of baseball involve following the World Series games, usually between the Yankees and a sacrificial team from the National League.
So, bring on the games! Let's "Play Ball!"
I predict the Yankees in six games.

THE COMMON GOOD

Let's return to the current health-care/health-insurance reform debate. I found the following interesting in an article by Daniel Callahan, titled "America's Blind Spot, Health Care & the Common Good":
"Suffering, disease, and death are our common lot. They ought to be dealt with as our common problem."
And then, in a blog response to the article, LaVonne Neff (who describes herself as "an amateur theologian...constant reader, and Christian contrarian.")writes, "Callahan expertly diagnosis our problem, but he does not offer a solution. National revival comes to mind, but America already has a much higher percentage of church-going Christians than the countries that take care of all their poor and suffering. Maybe we won't really care about the common good until more of us Americans experience poverty and suffering first hand."
Framing this debate in the term "common good" may offer room for good conversation that has not yet been allowed to take place.
I hope so.
Also, I want to become a "Christian contrarian" someday!

Eight Years and Counting...

We (the armed forces of the USA) have been in Afghanistan for eight years! I am aware that our stated reason for going to Afghanistan was to seek out and capture or kill those responsible for the attacks of 9/11. I am aware that many military strategists then and now have argued that we diluted our efforts in Afghanistan by also going to war in Iraq (for some very flimsy reasons!)
What I am not so much aware of is why we would want to continue a military presence in Afghanistan. There will be many casualties...of American soldiers and Afghan citizens if we continue our efforts. What are the reasonably expected results of our staying? What current reason are we offering for our continued presence in this country?
I hope we decide to bring our men and women home. I do not expect that this will be the case.

The Wisdom of Other People

There are times, fewer and fewer as I hopefully age to a more graceful human being, when I get to thinking that what I think, what I believe, what I say, and what I preach on Sunday mornings is real wisdom. Good wisdom. The best wisdom. The wisest wisdom-stuff that could be thought, believed, spoken or preached.
My wisdom is better than your wisdom. Mine is wisdom, yours is foolishness. How crazy is that? Very crazy. And very wrong.
I was this morning contemplating some posts on FaceBook and wondered how some of my FB friends could be so un-wise in their thinking, believing and posting.
And then I took a break to check out a great blog-site that a friend electronically pens rather regularly. (You should check it out at burningheretic.wordpress.com.) My friend's blog contained some real wisdom...sprinkled in with ample doses of sarcasm and humor. So there is at least one other person out there who has some wisdom to share. And if I were to look around a bit longer and wider I would no doubt find many, many others who have wisdom to share...even with me.
I remember hearing a program speaker say some years ago: "Everyone knows something you don't know...and their voice must be heard." That woman was a wise speaker.

Not Exactly a Twenty-One Gun Salute

Recent gatherings (Town Hall meetings and others) where the President has spoken have drawn gun-toting individuals! The most recent incident I am aware of took place in Arizona where a fellow showed up with a semi-automatic military rifle slung over his shoulder...the gun was loaded. Here's something amazing, at least to me, there is no law against such in Arizona! Evidently in that southwestern state there is a recognized need to carry such a weapon to fend off...what: rampaging wild buffalo, large groupings of attack rattlesnakes, persons massed to take over the Grand Canyon?
I am very aware of people who make the claim that carrying guns to political gatherings is their constitutional (if not God-given)right. But, my goodness, this is, to my thinking, either silliness or taunting. I believe it could be the latter.
I continue to think that ugly racism is behind much of the reaction to our current President.
Its an embarrassment.

August Angst

The August congressional recess is on and if the reputable news sources are to be believed, many elected officials returning to their districts are likely to face some fairly rowdy folks. These folks are rowdy over the proposed health-care reform that is making its way through both the House and Senate in various forms. Again, if reputable news sources are to be believed, most Americans want some health-care reform to become the law of the land.
The rowdy folks appear to be supported and encouraged ("directed" may be too strong a word, but maybe not) by the segments of the current health-care system who figure to suffer the most financially if reform is passed.
I don't have all the necessary facts to make a clear call here, but I do hope that calmer voices prevail and more rational debate can take place so that necessary reform can be legislated. This great country ought to be able and willing to extend health-care to all its citizens.

Walter Cronkite

I just now heard the news: Walter Cronkite is dead at age 92! For many folks the only news we needed to hear came from Walter each weekday evening on CBS. There were only three national television networks in the late 60s and into the 70s when "the most trusted man in America" talked to us during or just after our dinner meal, and CBS had the most viewers during the evening news time. When John Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Walter choked-up on air as he reported the sad news. When men walked on the moon, Walter was excited as he told us all about it. When the incredible tragedies and events of 1968 unfolded, Walter explained them to us. And when Walter offered his opinion about the "stalemate" of the Vietnam conflict, President Johnson knew he had lost the confidence of middle America for the war effort.
Walter Cronkite was a real journalist: He observed events, wrote reports about the happenings, and then talked to us about the events we needed to know about each day.
There were other good journalists of that time, too, but this man was the dean of them all.
He is an excellent reminder to us that one person can make a very, very big impression on the people of his or her time.

It only took 14 months!

John Dillinger was released from prison in May of 1933. In the fourteen months between that parole and July, 1934 he became perhaps the Hoosier state's most infamous citizen. Johnny Depps' new movie about the gangster details those fourteen months.
The facts about Dillinger's life mingle freely with the legends and lies about him. It makes for great storytelling, and even better movie-making.
It only took fourteen months for a legend to be born, a reputation to be established, a Robin Hood (to some he was a hero, knocking off banks that were foreclosing on home owners in the Depression years) or a robber to become world famous. I think two things: First, I will go see the movie (even though the reviews are quite mixed) and second, I will be reminded that in the span of a very short time a person (even me) can become entangled in some very, very bad things!

Home from the Beach

My favorite place to vacation is Ft. Myers Beach, FL. I stay at a place right on the beach of Estero Island. The first time I visited the place was in 1983 or '84 and I have been returning to the same resort ever since. If we get do-overs in life, I would like to be a resident beach bum...but just sort-of. Across the street from where I stay is a movie theatre, and a 7-11 Convenient Mart, and Charlie's Boat House Restaurant. An easy walk away is an executive golf course (no par 5s). The public library is just a couple of miles north (good books and public access Internet). Something would need to be done about the lack of a nearby Starbucks.
Every time I go on vacation I return home, of course. Does vacation make home seem better, or is it the other way around? Probably its a bit of both.
Physical time away from the everyday and ordinary is a true blessing, a gift. And yes, I am fully aware that not everyone is afforded this gift.
Today, I am home from the beach. Tomorrow, I will be back in the routine of home.
I was given the gift of time away...and as with all gifts I am given, I am appreciative.

Reason to Be Concerned

Earlier today a self-proclaimed racist murdered a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Less than two weeks ago a doctor was murdered by an anti-abortion extremist. There have been other murders recently that fit the same profile.
I have no political agenda to put forth and I will leave the commentary and factual reporting to the numerous news services. I would observe that most of the news sources I pay attention to are suggesting we ought to be concerned about the recent rise in racist and extremist violence in this country. We can all speculate why this may be the case, I have my suspicions and you have yours.
I am going to work even harder at three "celebrations" I have offered in sermons over the years. I am going to celebrate:

• Diversity...not Division.
• Opportunities...not Opposition.
• Advantages...not Adversaries.

My attention to these "celebrations" will not remove the reason we ought to be concerned right now, but it sure can't hurt!

Prayer

I just returned from visiting a friend in the hospital. All is well and he will return home tomorrow...better off due to a new heart cath. Hospitals, doctors and nurses are wonderful human and divine gifts to us!
Before my brief visit with he and his wife was completed, an employee arrived to take my friend from the cath center to a regular hospital room. I said goodbye before asking to pray with he and his wife. And that got me to thinking.
I am a professional "prayer of prayers." As a clergy person, it is expected (and sometimes even appreciated) that I would offer a prayer during a visit like the one recounted above. In worship services that I lead there is most often a time set aside for a "pastoral prayer" wherein I can try to capture and brielfy put into spoken words the prayers, thoughts, concerns and celebrations of the assembled congregation.
A 2008 survey (88 congregations, 950 participants) of United Methodist congregations (Anglo, African-American, Latino, Korean, and Chinese) on "The Place of Prayer" in UM churches revealed some interesting facts. See if you find yourself in any or many of these findings:

• UMs think prayer is very important to spiritual health and vitality.
• Most in leadership find prayer tends to become a function of the job.
• For the majority, "at church" is where most of the praying is done.
• When asked what they expect to happen when they pray, 56% said, "Huh?"
• For 92% of UMs, prayer is about what we say to God.

Mostly, I feel badly about these findings. Too often, my responses could be quite similar.

Ouch.

Movies...

Do you watch a lot of movies? I used to watch more of them than I do now, but one night out at a theatre every week or ten days seems to fit into my schedule quite well. Going with a friend is better than going alone. When I get asked about which movies are my favorites I am always stumped for the correct answer. What genre of movie? What decade? How many can I list? So what are your favorite flicks? Keep it to five...any genre. Tough to make that list, isn't it? I will offer five of my favorites (no planning ahead for this blog on my part, just naming five movies I really enjoyed over the years): The Music Man, Dirty Harry, The Natural, Young Frankenstein, Sophie's Choice. Are any of those on your list?
I confess that I sometimes find myself listening very carefully to the dialogue in a movie in the hope that there may be something said that would be worth repeating in a casual conversation or even a sermon. There are some movie lines that are just too good to not repeat: "Go ahead, make my day." "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." "Rosebud." "I"ll be back!" "If you build it, he will come."
Go see a good movie. Take your spouse, or your kids, or a friend. Talk about the movie after its over, see what was entertaining or important to each of you.
Remember to turn off your cell phone in the theatre!

Welcome, Welcome to our...

A good friend is by her job description in charge of helping to ensure that Bloomington, IN is a "Safe and Civil" city. The city wants to make its citizens feel they are welcomed, valued and respected. Good job, Bloomington!
The denomination I serve wants its churches to be places with "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors". Good job, United Methodism!
Probably not many of us could readily and clearly define in total words like "safe," "civil" or "open," but like the Supreme Court Justice said some time ago when attempting to rule on what constituted pornography, " I know it when I see it." We know what makes us feel safe. We know what it means to be civil and to be treated with civility. We know when we or others are being more open than closed. We've all been places where we knew from the get-go that we were welcomed; that our presence was more than tolerated, it was valued; that folks respected us for who we are. Those are good feelings. We've felt just the opposite, too. We know when hearts, minds and doors are open to us and when they are closed to us.
We know the positives and the negatives of these words and these feelings because we have displayed them in our behavior.
Well, I am soon moving to a city that wants to be known as safe and civil. I will take advantage of that, Bloomington. And I will return the favor, as best I can, as often as I can.

Ode to...

This past Sunday it was my honor to preach at the morning worship services at Calvary UMC in Brownsburg. At the senior pastor's suggestion neither he nor I wore socks...and we asked people to bring some new socks to church with them so they could later be sent to some folks who would appreciate them as part of a mission team project.
You should also know that this senior pastor is a many-times-published author (some 20 books, I believe) and a very clever man with words. Following the Sunday services he wrote a poem about me! Now there is an honor I had never before received! He titled it "Man of Steele" and it is posted on one of his three daily blogs (www.toddoutcalt.blogspot.com).
I'm not sure where he got the picture he claims is me, but I'll take all the hair I can get.

Moving...again.

As an itinerant person I have moved 8 times to satisfy the location of my professional assignment. Soon it will be 9 times. I am in the process of contacting movers to see who can best relocate my daughter and me from Indianapolis to Bloomington. We are looking forward to the move...the church we are going to, the neighborhood we will be living in, the school Hannah will attend: these are all great places!
But packing up, and leaving behind, and saying goodbye are difficult things to do. Even when one is accustomed to doing these things, they are difficult.
It occurs to me that packing up, leaving behind, and saying goodbye can also be good things. Here comes the preacher talk. There are items that I do not want to make the move with me. Items, and patterns, and disappointments, and more. There are things very much worth leaving behind. Things, and mistakes, and words misspoken, and more. It will be good to say goodbye to work not done as well as it could have been, and good solutions arrived at too late, and stuff I intended to do but never got around to, and more.
A fresh start for both a ten year old daughter and a sixty-four year old dad is once again evidence that both life and God are always at work.