Eucharisteo

"I thank my God every time I remember you..."

- Philippians 1:3 (NRSV)

This Sunday, which is World Communion Sunday, is a very special day in the life of the Church Universal, for on this day, we will gather at table around the globe and together celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion in a sign of unity and a prayer that, someday, the Body of Christ may truly be one, according to the prayer of our Lord in John 17. It is a great day, a day to be treasured and celebrated, a day on which the sacrament truly transcends, and becomes far more than we could possibly realize.

I'll be focusing on Philippians 1:3 in the sermon at Jefferson UMC. This is part of St. Paul's introduction to his letter to the church at Philippi.

As St. Paul gives thanks to God, he uses a wonderfully rich word: "eucharisteo", translated as "thanks" or sometimes "thanksgiving". This, of course, calls to mind the Lord's Supper, which is often (perhaps best) termed "the Eucharist".

We human beings often give thanks with a communal meal. Thanksgiving Day is a hallowed American holiday, and families gather on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday to break bread; friends often do the same for New Year or Independence Day celebrations. The notion of a communal meal is wired into us as humans.

When the Church gathers to give thanks, she, too celebrates a communal meal. But the thanksgiving is far more powerful even than the most intimate of family gatherings.

I recall the television series "Happy Days", which featured a Milwaukee teenager named Richie Cunningham and his circle of friends, the most interesting of whom was "the Fonz", the tough, street-wise, "cool" guy who functioned as a sort of mentor to Richie.

Years passed, and soon the actor who portrayed Richie, Ron Howard, wanted to leave the series to direct films (such as Parenthood, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind). A tear-filled "goodbye" episode for Richie was quickly scripted, and many Americans were glued to their televisions as the gang bade Richie farewell.

The most heartbreaking scene was the "goodbye" between Richie and his mentor/best friend, the Fonz. The two actors began to cry as Richie said to the Fonz something like, "How do you say 'thank you' to the one who means everything to you?"

Powerful words from a televisison sitcom. How do we say 'thank you' to the One who means everything to us, to the One who has given us new life and hope, who as granted is forgiving and transforming grace, who has blessed us far beyond anything we deserve, who has saved us from the pain of damnation? As Calvinist evangelical theologian Karl Barth wrote in his Deliverance to the Captives, "To be saved does not mean to be a little encouraged, a little comforted, a little relieved. It means to be pulled like a log from a burning fire."

How do we say 'thank you'? Well, in Biblical terms, giving thanks is 'eucharisteo'. We give thanks as the church primarily by celebrating the sacrament which is itself a gift for which to be thankful. We give thanks by faithfully partaking of the bread and the cup and allowing the Spirit - one more time - to renew us for life and for ministry, that tomorrow, we will be more like Christ than we are today.



Here are some Eucharistic resources I've written at one time or another...

"Do This; Remember Me!" (a 2003 hymn drawn from the Biblical institutioal narrative)
"Do This: The Eucharist as a Key to Pastoral Care and Renewal in the Church" (a brief 1997 paper, filled with spelling errors...sorry!)

More Bill Clinton

Episkopoi

For World Communion Sunday (Oct. 1), I'll be preaching on Philippians 1:1-11, focusing on verse three.

Verse one, however, is problematic for many Christians, particularly evangelicals. This is evidenced by the New International Version (NIV) and the English Standard Version (ESV), among other translations.

I believe that when it comes to translating the Scriptures, one must be faithful to the text, but also should take into account the historic translation and understanding of the text. An example of this is the famous translation of Isaiah 7:14 in the Revised Standard Version (RSV):

"Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign.
Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel."

While it is true that "young woman" is a legitimate translation of the Hebrew word "almah", Church tradition had faithfully used "virgin" (or sometimes "maiden") for centuries, and the decision of the RSV translators to ignore this precedent resulted in a great backlash against this otherwise excellent translation upon its release in the 1950s (which eventually prompted evangelicals to produce the NIV, among other translations).

There exists a similar problem regarding Philippians 1:1. It reads in the King James Version (KJV):

"Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons..."

Evangelical translations (such as the NIV and ESV) often translate the Greek word "episkopos" as "overseer", rather than "bishop" ("episkopoi" becoming "overseers" rather than "bishops"). Why are these translators afraid of bishops?

In an attempt to free themselves from traditional Church hierarchy (and, one could argue, traditional ecclesiology), translators seem to have translated a key Church word in a new way. Aside from being guilty of the same crime of which the RSV translators were guilty, they have shown disrespect to great bishops throughout history, such as Bishop Francis Asbury (above).

One of the greatest faults of 20th century evangelical theology was a weak ecclesiology. Presbyterianism provided a model for some, but even that system has weak roots and generally ignores "episkopoi". Both Reformers and evangelicals wished to distance themselves from the medieval Roman Catholic Church, with its imperial trappings. But it seems to me they threw out the baby with the bath water.

Bishops serve a proper and powerful purpose in the Church.

First, they represent our connection with the Church throughout the ages. The Constitution of the UMC states, "There shall be a continuance of an episcopacy in The United Methodist Church...", which, aside from making reference to our predecessor denominations, also infers an historic continuance through the ages. While this "succession" is impossible to verify historically due to the poor records kept during the Dark Ages, Christians can have faith that the historic faith has been faithfully transmitted through the centuries.

Second, bishops order the life of the Church as a whole, even as pastors (elders, local pastors, priests, whatever) order the life of the local congregations. When no one is minding the store in the episcopal sense, disaster can occur, ranging from denominational or jurisdictional collapse or a loss of clarity regarding the mission of the Church (which often results in cynicism and pessimism).

Third, and most importantly, bishops are charged with defense of the apostolic faith. It is the responsibility of the bishop to see to it that all Christians adhere to the essential doctrines and teachings of the Church. They have a supervisory and disciplinary role that we ought to take more seriously.

These three "fundamental roles" for bishops, whether for historic figures such as Bishop Asbury or contemporary leaders such as Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the Pittsburgh Area (above, between my lovely wife and myself), whether for United Methodist, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, or Lutheran bishops, are what we need to look for in our episcopal leaders. When a bishop or a group of bishops demeans or fails to enforce Church teaching, they not only diminish themselves and the historic role of the episcopacy, they endanger the life and ministry of the Church. Bishops, too, need to be held accountable.

I would encourage more independently-minded Christians to pray about and study the role of episkopoi. Perhaps in the 21st century, evangelicalism can finally develop a sound, faithful ecclesiology, and bring the movement more in line with traditional Christian teaching in this area.

(An excellent online article regarding Methodism and apostolic succession can be found here.)

NFL Rankings - Week 3

1 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 3)...once again, the best in the NFL

2 - Chicago Bears (last week 6)...hard to believe they're this good

3 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 7)...what a performance; those days may be over now that Alexander is out

4 - Jacksonville Jaguars (last week 4)...they lost to the NFL's best; no shame in that

5 - San Diego Chargers (last week 9)

6 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week 2)...they took advantage of a sloppy Steelers performance

7 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 8)

8 - New Orleans Saints (last week unranked)...impressive start

9 - New England Patriots (last week 5)...tough loss against Denver

10 - Atlanta Falcons (last week 1)...what a dismal loss in New Orleans

Honorable mentions:
Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos (maybe the best unranked team), Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles

What the heck?:
Pittsburgh Steelers (last week 10)...they need this bye week to figure things out

Player of the Week:
Brett Favre...what a performance from this future Hall of Famer...maybe the QB who has been more fun to watch than any QB in history

Stinkin' up the League:
Cleveland Browns (though they kept it close vs. Baltimore), Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans (despite the fact that they have one of the best coaches in the NFL)

Bill Clinton on FoxNews Sunday

What's up with Bill Clinton?

Bill Clinton, whose character flaws had a disastrous effect on his presidency and his legacy, is turning out to be one of the finest ex-presidents in U.S. history. Actually, he's achieved far more in the six years since leaving office than he did during his eight years in office, rasing money for tsunami and Katrina victims as well as forming a charitable foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative to focus on a variety of issues.

The master politician of his generation, he has typically presented a very slick, intelligent, controlled public image, even in the midst of difficulties and scandals.

Which is why I was so surprised to see the footage yesterday of Bill Clinton being interviewed on FoxNews Sunday by journalist Chris Wallace (son of 60 Minutes legend Mike Wallace). When asked if his administration had done all that it could have done to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden, Clinton lost his temper. He railed about a conservative conspiracy (apparently headed by FoxNews) and angrily attacked Wallace. Wallace later said, concerning the interview and Clinton's behavior, "Former President Clinton is a very big man. As he leaned forward--wagging his finger in my face--and then poking the notes I was holding--I felt as if a mountain was coming down in front of me." (You can read Wallace's impressions here.) Though obviously more than a little intimidated, Wallace did a good job of continuing the interview.

Why did Bill Clinton react with such venom? I really was quite surprised to watch the interview, and watching made me very uncomfortable.

Is he sincerely angry at how his legacy is being portrayed? What made him blow his fuse on national television? Analyst William Kristol has three suggestions as to why Bill Clinton lost his temper. One or all may be true.

But, from a pastoral perspective, something seems wrong with Bill Clinton; this reaction may be merely symptomatic.

As I've posted previously, Bill Clinton is not responsible for 9/11. Had he had any idea that such a tragedy were coming, he would have done everything in his power to prevent it; the same is true of current President Bush. Folks who accuse either man of causing or failing to prevent 9/11 are woefully mistaken.

This is an intelligent man with a keen political mind. Was this part of a political strategy, or an emotional outburst? Has the criticism from some bothered him this much? Surely, he's accustomed to that. This is why I am perplexed.

If something is wrong in his heart (and that may not have anything to do with the subject of terrorism), then the Christian reaction to Bill Clinton's outburst is clear: we need to be in prayer for the man. Whether or not we agree with his politics or with his lifestyle choices, we must pray for him, and hope that he finds some peace in the midst of a difficult time for all world leaders.

(You can watch the interview by clicking here.)

Steelers review

Cincinnati Bengals 28, Steelers 20

Game Ball: Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, whose acrobatic touchdown reception gave the Bengals the lead.

Play of the Game: Either Houshmandzadeh's TD reception or Bengals safety Kevin Kaesviham's interception in the last minute of the game, which ended the Steelers final drive.

Steelers Grades:

Coaching: B...it looked as if the coaches called a decent game, but the players simply couldn't execute and produce.

QB: D...Ben Roethlisberger looked more than simply rusty...he looked as if he lacked confidence and has a way to go before he's in top form.

Running Game: B...Willie Parker looked solid (31 carries, 133 yards), but Verron Haynes isn't the answer for the team's #2 back; his 4th quarter fumble resulted in a Bengals TD.

Passing Game: B-...WR Cedric Wilson and TE Heath Miller each had a productive game, but WR Santonio Holmes and superstar WR Hines Ward were pretty much non-factors. Big Ben's 3 interceptions were also quite costly (he was 18/39 for the day with 0 TD passes).

Defense: D...Bengals QB Carson Palmer threw 2 TD passes inside of a minute; the Bengals scored 28 points, a surprisingly high number for a Steelers opponent.

Special Teams: D...horrible. Absolutely terrible. Punt returner Ricardo Colclough's devastating fumble resulted in a Bengals TD. This unit has to improve tremendously for the Steelers to have any hope of season success.

Bengals analysis: While they didn't play perfectly and the Steelers could have won the game, they got the job done and did what is most necessary for a successful team: take advantage of your opponent's mistakes. They're not the best in the NFL or even the AFC, but they are a very good team with a very good coach and some real talent (I hate writing that).

Letter

(give it a minute to load...)

Clergy Spouses

Robyn left yesterday for Camp Allegheny, one of our Conference's three camps. I must say that our camping program is the finest ministry of our Conference; we are blessed with three world class camps: Allegheny, Jumonville, and Wesley Woods. People from all over the globe come to western PA to participate in our programs. In my view, we simply can't give enough funding and prayer support to our camping program. We are blessed, and we have a great responsibility to maintain and improve this vital ministry.

At any rate, each year, our Conference spouses (mostly but not exclusively women) go on a Fall Retreat at one of our camps. This is an important time for these unsung parsonage heroines, who have a unique role...not clergy, but not completely laity either...and who put up with all kinds of headaches because of their love for their clergy spouse and their faithfulness to Almighty God. The retreat is a time to connect with others who understand what it's like to be a United Methodist clergy spouse in Western PA Conference. It is a time of spiritual renewal and refocus, and to receive loving and prayerful support from dear sisters and brothers in Christ. Bishop Bickerton led last evening's session; I can't recall what special speaker they've brought in for the next two days.

I've also been pleased with the recent leadership. Last year, Robyn organized the retreat. This year, the organizer was Karen Vanderhoff, whose husband was ordained with me a few years back (heaven knows we tried to stop Jeff's ordination, to no avail). Robyn led last year, Karen this year. Our probationer class will soon...dare I say it...rule the world.

So...I'm playing Mr. Mom for a few days. I covet prayers that the kids and I survive and the parsonage remains intact upon Robyn's return on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday's Gospel

"They went on from there and passed through Galilee.
And he did not want anyone to know,
for he was teaching his disciples,
saying to them,
'The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.'
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them,
'What were you discussing on the way?'
But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, 'If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.'
And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
'Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.'"

(Mark 9:30-37, ESV)

NFL Rankings - Week 2

1 - Atlanta Falcons (last week 2)...right now, the best team in the NFL

2 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week 3)...this pains me

3 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 5)...a win this weekend against the Jags makes them the clear #1

4 - Jacksonville Jaguars (last week 7)...a win this weekend in Indy makes them the clear #1

5 - New England Patriots (last week 9)...Brady, the best QB in the NFL, always gets it done

6 - Chicago Bears (last week unranked)...what a defense...and their offense may actually be a threat

7 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 8)...solid team, future Hall of Fame coach

8 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 4)...Billick is a jerk, but usually produces surprisingly winning teams

9 - San Diego Chargers (last week 6)

10 - Pittsburgh Steelers (last week 1)...what a terrible Monday night...the Steelers were smacked around at the line of scrimmage by the Jags impressive D, and need to really improve to beat Cincy this Sunday

Honorable mentions:
Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles

What the heck?:
Carolina Panthers (last week 10)...the biggest disappointment of the season to date...they need Steve Smith back and to get their act together

Stinkin' up the League:
Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans

Steelers review

Jacksonville Jaguars 9, Steelers 0

Game Ball: The Jacksonville Jaguars defense, which dominated the game, looking Super Bowl-ready.

Play of the Game: Ben Roethlisberger's last interception, which sealed the Steelers' fate.

Steelers Grades:

Coaching: B...I could give them a worse grade, but I think the Steelers simply lost to the better team.

QB: C...I agree with Coach Bill Cowher: Ben was rusty. He wasn't terrible, and starting him was the right call. But, hopefully, he'll pick up his game a notch or two next week.

Running Game: F...what running game?

Passing Game: D...dropped passes left and right.

Defense: B+...they kept a very good team to three field goals. They weren't as opportunistic as I'd have liked, but were solid.

Special teams: B...some improvement from last week, but still room to improve.

Jaguars analysis:

This is a team that has to be an early favorite to go far in the playoffs. An excellent, excellent team which, if it stays healthy, could do great things.

Blessed are the peacemakers

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

(Matthew 5:9, TNIV)

"Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today..."

(Al Cleveland/Marvin Gaye/Renaldo Benson, 1971)

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people...
to guide our feet into the way of peace."

(Luke 1:68, 79, ESV)

"How many times must the cannon balls fly
before they are forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...
How many deaths will it take till we know
that too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind..."

(Bob Dylan, 1962)

"So then let us pursue what makes for peace..."

(Romans 14:19, ESV)

"Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace, eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."

(Jill Jackson/Sy Miller, 1955)

"God has called you to peace."

(1 Corinthians 7:15, ESV)

"Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one ."

(John Lennon, 1971)

"...he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near."

(Ephesians 2:17, ESV)

"Nothing comes from violence; nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are"

(Sting, 1987)

"...a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

(James 3:18, ESV)

"As I walk through this wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself, 'Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?'
And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
As I walk on through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong and who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony?
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?"

(Nick Lowe, 1979)

"...seek peace and pursue it."

(1 Peter 3:11, ESV)

Looking for the Devil

"Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
"He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
"But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, 'Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.'"

(Mark 8:31-33, NRSV)

In Western society, we have often been preoccupied with the Devil. Lots of music has been written about this enemy of humanity, lots of paintings painted, lots of theological works written in an attempt to understand and identify it.

It seems to me that in this passage from Mark (from this Sunday's lections), Jesus is quite clearly identifying the enemy. We don't need to look for the Devil any further than our own mirrors. How often do we frustrate the Holy Spirit? How often do we take the easy road? How many times have we purposely or inadvertently gotten in the way of God's plans? While we are called to be on the road to perfection in love, most of us are not yet there; I'm nowhere near that destination. Inherited sin is still very much a reality for most of us.

If we look for the Devil behind every tree and under every rock, we're going to find it. Instead, we as the Church need to recognize that the enemy which poses the greatest danger isn't the one in Afghanistan or Iraq or "in hell", but rather the enemy that stares back at us while we're brushing our teeth.

This Sunday's Psalm

"The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their measuring line goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

"The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

"Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

(Psalm 19, ESV)

Intolerance in Rosieland

My favorite TV show of all-time is "M*A*S*H". Every episode was great; never a stinker. In daily reruns, it's still the best show on TV.

Near the end of the series, Hawkeye and B.J. get tanked at Rosie's Bar and decide to form their own sovereign nation, which, in honor of Rosie, they name "Rosieland". Funny stuff.

It seems that professional personality Rosie O'Donnell lives in her own reality, which we could also call "Rosieland". Apparently, a few days ago on her ABC program "The View", O'Donnell argued with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck (from "Survivor") about the War on Terror, which is fine. Argue away.

The problem was that O'Donnell made the claim that, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam." Now, a key question to Miss O'Donnell could be, "How do you define 'radical Christianity'?" Given her comments later on the program, it seems that radical Christians to Miss O'Donnell are Christian folks who don't agree with her.

Should this surprise anyone? A darling of the "Big Media" and Hollywood, Miss O'Donnell isn't a bad representative of those two elites, which are both extremely anti-Christian (particularly anti-Roman Catholic and anti-evangelical...my own denomination, typically left-wing, is usually spared their venom). This at the same time that country-pop group the Dixie Chicks are using extreme profanity in reference to the president, and talented actor Sean Penn refers to the president as "Beelzebub". Has the radical Left lost any sense of respect and proper, constructive discourse?

The truth is that the Left, which believes itself to be open to a diversity of viewpoints and accepting of dissent, is extremely intolerant. One of my favorite political quotes comes from the great English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge: "I have seen great intolerance shown in support of tolerance." Welcome to Rosieland.

Now, to be fair, some folks on the Right make a lot of stupid statements. Pat Robertson, for instance, has said some things in recent years which should make you scratch your head with bewilderment; neither side has a monopoly on stupidity.

But when Mel Gibson, a conservative Roman Catholic, went on a drunken, anti-Semitic tirade, for which he ought to be ashamed, it was the lead story on the news for days. The media asked, "Will he ever be able to work in Hollywood again?" It seems that the Big Media has given Miss O'Donnell a pass for her own stupid remarks which, like Mr. Gibson's words, show a remarkable level of intolerance.

Liberal political analyst Bob Beckel said, concerning Miss O'Donnell's remarks, that they were, "...not very illuminating..." and "...dumb...", going on to say, "If you're going to have idiots on the left, you've got idiots on the right." He is absolutely correct, and if the Left is smart, they'll have more folks like Beckel speaking for them, and fewer people like Rosie O'Donnell.

Here is the clip in question from "The View"...


For a news report on the incident, click here.

NFL Rankings - Week 1

One week of NFL action behind us, and what a surprising week it was. Boy, did I ever have it wrong with my rankings last week.

1 - Pittsburgh Steelers (last week 3)...the only one of my Top 3 from last week who looked good

2 - Atlanta Falcons (last week 9)...right now, the best in the NFC

3 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week 6)...scary good on both sides of the ball

4 - Baltimore Ravens (last week unranked)...they looked awfully solid, though I don't know how long they can sustain it; the AFC North is the NFL's strongest division right now

5 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 1)...the Great Peyton looked confused, and they need to do something about their anemic running game

6 - San Diego Chargers (last week unranked)...what a good defense

7 - Jacksonville Jaguars (last week unranked)...the Steelers need to bring their A-game to Florida on Monday night

8 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 5)

9 - New England Patriots (last week 4)

10 - Carolina Panthers (last week 2)...they desperately need Steve Smith

Honorable mentions:
Dallas Cowboys (last week 8), Detroit Lions (last week 10), Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams

What happened?:
Denver Broncos (last week 7), Tampa Bay Bucs

Looking horrifically bad:
Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers

Prayer on Sept. 11

Merciful Heavenly Father, on this gloomy day when we remember those terrible events of five years ago, we humbly come before you in prayer. We confess to you our many sins, both of commission and omission. We have fallen short, as a people and as a Church, from your vision for us. Where you have desired reconciliation, we have offered war. Where you have desired forgiveness, we have offered vengeance. Where you have desired embraces, we have offered guns. Forgive us, we pray. Inspire us with your Spirit anew this day, that we might strive earnestly toward perfection in love, that someday this date might be remembered for positive change rather than for hatred, violence, pain, and death. Comfort those this day who still grieve for loved ones lost five years ago, and in the war which has followed. Be with the leaders of our nation and the world, that they would seek your will in all things, and that we as a people might finally learn to solve our problems at a common table of understanding, rather than through terror and bombs. Speak this day to Osama Bin Laden and all the terrorists still at large, reveal your Son to them and lead them to faith in Christ, and grant your Church the courage it needs to forgive and embrace them, through and for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thomas Coke

Happy 259th birthday to Bishop Thomas Coke, born on this day in 1747.

Bishop Coke remains one of the unsung heroes of American Methodism. Sure, we all learn about him in seminary, and likely we purchase books or church supplies from Cokesbury (whose name comes from Coke and his episcopal partner), but we rarely speak of him in the honored tones we use when speaking of the Wesley brothers or Bishop Francis Asbury.

But Bishop Coke is the man through whom our ordination descends, since he was consecrated to the episcopacy by John Wesley, becoming America's first Methodist bishop. Bishop Coke later ordained Bishop Asbury, among others. It was primarily Bishop Coke who put together our first Book of Discipline, providing for order in the life of the Church.

While Bishop Asbury remained in America, becoming the most significant religious figure of the early republic (George Washington called him "America's Bishop"), Bishop Coke returned to Europe to preside over the Methodists in both Ireland and Great Britain. He also made occasional trips to America, where he was received warmly but rarely with the love and adulation that folks reserved for Bishop Asbury.

Perhaps most significantly, Bishop Coke, who was famous for his soft-spoken nature and overall kindness, as well as his love for the Lord and Wesley's approach to Christianity, is the "Father of Methodist Missions". He traveled to the Caribbean as a missionary and faithfully supported work in Africa and Canada, as well as in America. He passed away, in fact, in 1814, while making the journey to India to begin Methodist mission work in that nation.

The best work I've found on Bishop Coke is Thomas Coke: Apostle of Methodism, written by John Vickers in 1969 (ISBN 0716201283). Sadly, there hasn't been a great deal of historical research concerning our first bishop. I pray that this situation changes in years to come, as this great servant of Christ deserves a hallowed place in the hearts of not only Methodists, but Christians of every denomination and creed.

Thank God for Bishop Thomas Coke.

Steelers review

Steelers 28, Miami Dolphins 17

It was a great night in Pittsburgh as the Steelers kicked off the 2006 NFL season with a solid win. The opening ceremony, highlighting the team's Super Bowl legacy, was wonderful. The city looked great.

Game Ball: Charlie Batch, Steelers QB, who stepped in for Ben Roethlisberger and showed the entire league what a back-up QB should do. Great game...not flawless...but he got the job done, and did it very well.

Play of the Game: Either Batch's TD pass to TE Heath Miller or LB Joey Porter's interception, which he ran back for a touchdown.

Steelers Grades:

Coaching: A-...some bold moves. They adjusted well after the half.

QB: B+...Batch didn't have Big Ben's "magic", but he did a fine job and got the win.

Running Game: A...RB Willie Parker ran for 115 yards and looked great. Batch also ran relatively well when he needed to do so.

Passing Game: B-...some excellent plays (by Batch, Miller, WR Hines Ward, and WR Nate Washington) almost ruined by some mistakes (chiefly by rookie WR Santonio Holmes).

Defense: B...the Steelers did an excellent job stopping the Dolphins anemic running game, but, at times, the secondary was fooled. That said, Porter and SS Troy Polamalu both did fine jobs, making interceptions at key moments.

Special teams: C...they need work. K Jeff Reed missed a field goal, Holmes made some rookie mistakes, and the entire unit allowed the Dolphins to gain too many yards on returns. This seems to be the Steelers' "Achilles heel" right now.

Dolphins analysis:

Coach Nick Saban is a fine coach, but was far too hesitant calling for a review of the Heath Miller TD run. That indecisiveness didn't cost Miami the game, but did cost them 6 points.

QB Daunte Culpepper was miraculous just in his presence, having recovered so quickly from a serious injury last season. By the end of the first half, he seemed to find a certain rhythm, but couldn't maintain it. He made some bad throws, and needs to notch up his game a bit if the Dolphins want to make a serious playoff run.

Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard is all wrong, however, in his claim that the Dolphins loss isn't all that bad. Any loss is bad. They should not feel good; they should let the loss hurt, and spur them to better results next week.

Truth and Lies

On Mon., Sept. 11, ABC is planning to air a "docudrama" about the tragedy which is apparently insulting to Clinton Administration alumni, as the drama supposedly implies that they were in some way responsible for the tragedy, or at least could have prevented it. They claim, perhaps correctly (I don't really know, since I haven't seen the show), that the drama contains several inaccuracies and fictionalizations.

Let me say that while ABC (or anyone else) certainly has a right to produce whatever kind of material they wish to produce, it is very irresponsible of the network to produce something so inaccurate, if indeed it is. As I've stated before, Bill Clinton was not responsible for 9/11, nor was President Bush. To imply otherwise is just wrong.

BUT...

A few years ago, CBS produced a drama about Ronald Reagan which was filled with inaccuracies and outright fabrications. At the time, many conservatives protested the drama, claiming irresponsibility and partisan politicizing on the part of its producers. Many liberals, on the other hand, defended the drama and CBS.

Now, many liberals are protesting the ABC 9/11 drama, claiming irresponsibility and partisan politicizing on the part of its producers. Many conservatives, on the other hand, are defending the drama and ABC.

To me, this demonstrates a major integrity problem with folks on both sides. We should all be interested in truth, not selected facts distorted to present an inaccurate but politically beneficial perspective.

Sometimes, the truth hurts. Sometimes, the truth can set us free.

In Psalm 15, we read, "O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue...".

So, truthtelling is something that's important to God, and important in terms of our personal eternity.

We flawed sinful humans are so bent on demeaning, stereotyping, and marginalizing "the other side" rather than trying to understand or find common ground, that it must absolutely sicken Almighty God. This is especially true in the Church, "the people of God", "the Body of Christ", where we ought to know better. We find this marginalizing in the homosexuality debate in the Church, and we find it in the abortion debate in society-at-large. We find it wherever any important issue...war, guns, education, and many others...is brought to the table.

As Nick Lowe wrote (and Elvis Costello sang), "What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?"

Musician/activist Bono has wisely said, "How far should we go to understand each other’s points of view? Maybe the distance grace covered on the cross."

Misc. thoughts

I think...

...Massachusetts Republican Gov. Mitt Romney looks more and more impressive as a presidential candidate...

...With respect to Peyton Manning, a great player whom I admire, Tom Brady is the best player in the NFL and, when he finally does retire someday, may be considered the best ever at his position (QB), which is arguably the most difficult position in sports...

...I find it appalling and completely disrespectful that Harvard University, perhaps the finest school in the world, has invited former Iranian president Mohammed Khatami to speak on the issue of tolerance (!) on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary...

...Pittsburgh lost a fine man upon the passing of Mayor Bob O'Connor last Friday, a "man of the people" if ever there was one...

...the notion of current Iranian President Ahmadinejad speaking to the United Nations later this month is repulsive...

...Steelers QB Charlie Batch, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Steel Valley HS, will get the job done tonight against Miami, providing the Steelers' great offensive line can contain Dolphins DE Jason Taylor, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Woodland Hills HS...

...Tony Blair deserves better...

...Sen. Rick Santorum soundly defeated Senate candidate Bob Casey, Jr. in their first debate last Sunday, though both seem like decent men, not that far apart politically in many ways...

...Bill Clinton is not to blame for 9/11; President Bush is not to blame for 9/11; Bin Laden and radical evil are to blame; if either Clinton or Bush thought anything like 9/11 was ahead, they would have done anything to prevent it...the new ABC "documdrama" to be shown this weekend alleges that Clinton was so distracted by the Monica Lewinsky scandal that he failed to address Bin Laden and Al Qaeda; while that may be true, I cannot believe that Bill Clinton, as self-serving as he was, would not have addressed the issue had he known about the 9/11 plans...it's categorically unfair to blame Clinton for the tragedy, as flawed as his presidency was...

...Bob Dylan's new album is #1 on the charts, a well-deserved sign of hope, given the horrible state of contemporary music...

...Katie Couric is a professional celebrity and entertainer, not a journalist, and to expect her show to be "hard news" is unrealistic and unfair...

...the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, will be real contenders this year.

NFL Rankings - Preseason

My picks as the Top Ten best teams in the NFL. The season begins tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.

1 - Indianapolis Colts...my pick to win the Super Bowl
2 - Carolina Panthers...my pick to win the NFC
3 - Pittsburgh Steelers
...assuming a healthy QB
4 - New England Patriots...Tom Brady is the best QB in the NFL, and will keep them competitive
5 - Seattle Seahawks...they'll surprise no one this year
6 - Cincinnati Bengals
...assuming a healthy QB
7 - Denver Broncos...Shanahan always keeps them competitive
8 - Dallas Cowboys...assuming a healthy QB and no T.O. explosion
9 - Atlanta Falcons...Michael Vick is amazing to watch
10 - Detroit Lions...my pick as "the surprise of the year"

Other NFL picks:

MVP - Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, QB
Defensive Player of the Year - Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers, SS
Coach of the Year - Rod Marinelli, Detroit Lions
Rookie of the Year - Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints, RB
2007 #1 Draft Pick - San Francisco 49ers
Notable retirements at season's end - Brett Favre, Bill Cowher

Farewell Steve Irwin

God bless Steve Irwin , the "Crocodile Hunter", 1962-2006.

On this date...

On this date in 1965, Bob Dylan released his classic album Highway 61 Revisited. It is generally considered to be among the Top 10 Greatest Albums in the rock and roll era, probably Dylan's best work, and a landmark in folk rock.

US Highway 61 travels from New Orleans through Memphis to Canada, and Dylan used it as a metaphor for American life. According to critic Robert Shelton, "...as a teenager, Dylan had travelled that way on radio. ... Highway 61 became, I think, to him a symbol of freedom, a symbol of movement, a symbol of independence and a chance to get away from a life he didn't want." Though firmly "folk rock", the album has a very bluesy feel.

The album begins with "Like A Rolling Stone", one of rock's greatest records. Absolute perfection, musically and lyrically. Dylan's only #1 hit, few records in the past 50 years can compare in terms of sheer excellence (the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" and maybe a Beatles single or two, not much else). The song blew away John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and influenced scores of other musicians, including Michael Nesmith, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Frank Zappa.

The album continues with one great song after another, such as "Tombstone Blues", "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", "Ballad of a Thin Man", and the title track, before finishing with the astonishing "Desolation Row", one of the most ambitious songs ever written, a bleak and bizarre vision of America.

Highway 61 Revisited is a work that should be heard repeatedly by music lovers everywhere. It's one of my personal favorites; I often listen to it in the car during a long drive. I commend it to one and all as one of the best works by the best American songwriter who ever lived.

Katrina: One Year Later

The news is filled with stories of the Gulf Coast region, a year after the hurricane which devastated the region. Some stories seem accurate and meaningful; others are political first, news second. That's the problem with the "Big Media" in America today...the reporting of the news accurately suffers as political agendas (likely on both sides of the aisle) become primary.

Here's my analysis:

WHO LOOKS BAD:

* New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco...two elected officials who define ineffectiveness for 21st century America. Neither official stepped up prior to the storm or in its immediate aftermath; both are complete failures as leaders whose errors cost lives and billions of dollars in damage. Nagin, demonstrating his complete lack of leadership integrity, has spent a good part of the last year blaming others (the state, the Feds, whomever else seems convenient at the moment) for his mistakes, sometimes using racist tones. Horrible stuff. It was the job of Nagin and Blanco to evacuate and then to oversee relief and rebuilding; judging by the trash still evident in New Orleans, the fact that half the population of the city hasn't returned, and that the city is in general disarray, these two people should retire.

* FEMA...the response seemed chaotic. I'm not sure who in this department is precisely at fault; likely there are several people, including former director Mike Brown. It was shocking to see how slowly FEMA jumped into action.

* President George W. Bush...overseeing a disaster like this isn't his job, but he made some costly political mistakes throughout the tragedy. Columnist Fred Barnes does a fine job of detailing these mistakes here. The president, admittedly preoccupied with the War on Terror, seemed out of touch with what was happening along the Gulf Coast. Fair or not, the perception of his slow reaction cost him support and will likely cost the GOP Congressional seats come November.

* The "Big Media"...the reporting of the hurricane's aftermath in New Orleans represents the nadir of American journalism. Reporters were so eager to get stories that they stretched the truth and at times seemingly fabricated horrific tales of mass rapes and murders. No major network was spotless in this regard. All seemed eager to spin politics at the expense of accuracy. ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and NBC...shame on you. You diminished yourselves and journalists everywhere.

* The New Orleans Saints...as a team, they usually look bad, but, if I were a betting man, I'd bet that they move sometime in the future, possibly to Los Angeles.

* Politicians Everywhere...so many wanted to turn Katrina into something for their political gain; many are still doing this. Shame on all of them.

WHO LOOKS GOOD:

* Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Florida Governor Jeb Bush...both did an exceedingly excellent job throughout, and both their states have been rebuilt far more effectively than in Louisiana. Granted, neither had a major problem like New Orleans on their hands, but both have served as models of what to do and what not to do when this kind of disaster hits.

* The Relief agencies...such as UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Church World Service, and the many other agencies and church groups which raised millions of dollars and, just as importantly, sent teams of folks to the afflicted region to help clean up and rebuild. Praise the Lord for all who helped in any way; the area would be far behind where it is without the help of these kind people.


Let's try and do better as a society the next time a disaster of this magnitude strikes. And let us continue to pray for those afflicted.

To help with the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal, click here.


POST-SCRIPT:

Here's an example of the "Big Media" during the tragedy...an ABC reporter desperate to get some citizens to diss the president, but failing to get what he's looking for...

Old pics

I thought some friends might enjoy some of these older pictures I rediscovered while moving this summer.

The first two pics are of my then-girlfriend Robyn and myself in late 1989. The next is also from late 1989 and features myself and my friend and brother in Christ Dayton Mix. The final pic is from early 1990, and features Robyn and I again.

Back to School

Hallelujah! The day is finally here and the kids are heading back to school! For the McIlwain family, this also means beginning again our family devotional routine. This year, we're using a lectionary-based devotional book.

The best news is that because of proper timing, we are all able to share devotions together; last year, our two older kids shared with us prior to our two younger children, who did not have to get up quite as early to catch the bus.

I thank God for the opportunity and blessing of being able to share these brief but important times with my wife and children. My kids often "don't get it", and often would rather be doing anything else, but what a joy it is to have the privilege of family devotional time. May I never take it for granted.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.
Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise..."

(Deuteronomy 6:4-7, NRSV)

Misc. thoughts...

I think...

...Delaware Democrat Sen. Joseph Biden looks more and more impressive as a presidential candidate...

...Marvin Olasky's 1999 book The American Leadership Tradition, despite an obvious rightward slant, is right on regarding the relationship between personal ethics/morality and leadership...I'd love to write a Church version of this book, focusing on great leaders in Christian history rather than American presidents...

...Ray Nagin, Democrat Mayor of New Orleans, already proven to be one of the most incompetent leaders in history, may also be one of the most insensitive men on the planet...

...John Karr, whether or not he's guilty of killing Jon Benet Ramsey, is one of the creepiest looking men I've ever seen...if he smiled, I bet he'd look like the Joker...

...the jailing of human rights activist Chen Guangcheng is a tragedy, showing that China has a long way to go...

...Tom Cruise may be a looney tune, but he's still an amazingly talented and underrated actor...

...I love him, and he's got the vote of all faithful Steelers fans, but the campaign of PA gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann seems dead in the water...

...AFC contenders: Pittsburgh, New England, and Indianapolis, with Denver, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Miami, and possibly Kansas City and San Diego challenging...NFC contenders: Dallas, Philadelphia, Carolina, and Seattle, with the NY Giants and Chicago also making some noise...and, while I'm rooting for a Black and Gold repeat, this could be Peyton Manning's year...

...political analyst Dick Morris is absolutely correct most of the time...

...Ohio State and Notre Dame will play in the BCS title game in January 2007 to determine the College Football National Champion...

...Pluto deserved better...

...Hillary Clinton's chances of winning the White House in '08 are very, very slim, despite what the "Big Media" preaches...McCain, Giuliani, Gore...it will be one of those men (but, again, Biden's looking strong), with Clinton, Kerry, Gingrich, Edwards, and others far, far behind...

...the odds of the Pittsburgh Steelers repeating as Super Bowl champions may be slim, but they are still an awfully good football team...

...Allegheny County (PA) Chief Executive Dan Onorato has a bright future in PA politics; he's an independently-minded Democrat not beholden to party orthodoxy, who seems more interested in doing the right thing than pandering...

...after 66 years, Hawkman is still the coolest superhero on the planet...

...Pennsylvanians are blessed to have two decent men running for Senate this year...both Rick Santorum and Bob Casey, Jr. seem like upstanding, principled men (both devoted Roman Catholics), and we are truly blessed to be able to choose between two fine citizens for U.S. Senate...

...I'm proud of the United Methodists in Illinois offering sanctuary to an illegal immigrant and her son, but I wonder what's really being done to resolve the situation...

...the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars will win the PA title in AAA High School football...the Woodland Hills Wolverines will win it at the AAAA level...

...The Nativity Story, a movie due out in December, looks really cool.

Emmy Madness

This Sunday the Emmy Awards will be broadcast, presumably awarding television's best with little statues. But who cares?

I don't mind this sort of thing, and at times these awards shows can be far more entertaining than most television fare.

But it's hard to be excited at all when television's best aren't even nominated.

The best show on network television...by far...is ABC's Boston Legal. No other show comes close. Yet, it isn't nominated for Best Drama or Best Comedy. So, right from the start, the best series on TV will be ignored. This is particularly sad because one of television's best actors, James Spader, has been recognized in the past for his outstanding work as Alan Shore, one of Boston's most notorious attorneys.

To add insult to injury, the actor who gave probably the best performances in the previous season, Hugh Laurie of FOX's House, was not nominated for his excellent work. The demented Dr. Gregory House is, like Shore and his law partner Denny Crane (played by the legendary William Shatner), among the most bizarre TV characters in many years, and Laurie has been outstanding in a role that would be easy to overwork. Yet, despite the fact that House is nominated for Best Drama, Laurie was forgotten.

Other folks who deserved nominations but were ignored were Rene Auberjonois (Boston Legal), Julie Bowen (Boston Legal), Zach Braff (Scrubs), Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives), John McGinley (Scrubs), and (especially) Tony Shalhoub (Monk).

I don't know what gets into the people who nominate TV shows, movies, and music for the big awards each year. So often they seem either woefully out of touch, overly eager to make political statements, or ignorant of real artistic excellence and achievement. It can make for some boorish awards shows and missed opportunities to recognize some decent art.

Farewell Bishop Moncure

One of United Methodism's more effective episcopal leaders died tragically at 61 earlier this week. Bishop Rhymes Moncure led the Nebraska Area for a number of years before moving to head the Dallas Area. A passionate ecumenist, he also modeled servant ministry by washing the feet of the ordinands of his Conference. A story from the United Methodist News Service can be read here. Thank God for such a faithful leader; may his family and Conference be comforted.

I'm Gumbel, darn it...

Broadcasting personality Bryant Gumbel is at it again.

In February of this year, he questioned the nature of the Winter Olympic Games, showing his unflattering racist side (see my blog entry here). Now, he's gone and made outrageous remarks about the NFL, outgoing commish Paul Tagliabue, and players union head Gene Upshaw. He's suggested that Tagliabue has controlled Upshaw "on a leash" and that the NFL players have suffered for it (see the report here).

Gumbel, as I said in February, is not a journalist. He's an entertainer...a professional personality. His remarks should never be taken seriously; he is not a serious person.

But these offending remarks should result in his termination by the NFL, which has employed Gumbel as a broadcaster for the NFL Network. And for what?

Gumbel's former partner Katie Couric, one of America's most popular professional personalities (second only to Oprah, perhaps), will soon be taking over the CBS Evening News. Gumbel's former haunt, NBC's Today Show, continues to flourish without him. Maybe Gumbel is searching for relevance, trying to prove that he is important.

Here's hoping he learns to be content without saying untruthful things that only hurt others and make him look foolish.

UPDATE, Wed., Aug. 23: Gumbel is called "jealous" and "desperate" by former NFL star and current Vikings player rep Robert Smith (see here). This seems part of a consensus among NFL folks, journalists, and the blogosphere that Gumbel is unhinged.

Katrina Appeal

This Sunday, Aug. 27, is the Sunday closest to the first anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in the American Gulf Coast. The United Methodist Council of Bishops have asked every United Methodist congregation to take up a special offering this Sunday to benefit the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal. Our bishop announced this date at our Annual Conference session in June.

All of the aid that UMCOR sent to the stricken region went to humanitarian needs...food, clothing, shelter, medicine, etc. That was certainly needed, and UMCOR did an outstanding job, along with other agencies such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, the Red Cross, and Church World Service, to name a few.

But congregations, ministries, and pastors have also suffered tremendously. Many churches don't have facilities, and many more lack basic worship tools such as hymnals or instruments. Essential resources for a wide variety of ministries were destroyed in the flood waters, and, with the focus on humanitarian need, have not been rebuilt. Additionally, many pastors and their families have not had regular salaries...in many cases, that's been because their parishes no longer exist...in other cases, it's because their parishioners have relocated or have "spread out" geographically. The tragedy continues.

Our bishops have organized the Appeal in order for the Connection to help one another. This is one of the best things about our United Methodist connection...we are able to lift up one another at times like this. I'm excited to be a part of this appeal, and Jefferson church will be faithfully participating this Sunday.

For more information on the appeal, click here.

To purchase maroon bracelets which say, "rebuilding churches and communities", the purchase of which will benefit the Appeal, click here.

For a bulletin insert on the appeal (a PDF file), click here.

For worship tools (also a PDF file), click here.

It's a time for United Methodists to stop whining about our connectional problems and actually do something constructive and meaningful. Praise God that we have been deemed worthy to have this opportunity; may the Lord bless our faithful efforts.

A Miracle?

Miracles still happen, even in The United Methodist Church.

Read this for more.

Make Poverty History

Click on the "play" button...

Fear of the Lord

Psalm 111:10...
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding."

In 1933, at his first inauguration and during the height of the Great Depression, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt uttered the words, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Those were (and remain) powerful words to inspire a nation to war. But FDR was incorrect.

Fear is real, and ought never to be dismissed lightly. But there is something we need to fear that is far more dangerous than "fear itself", or Dracula, or terrorism, or nuclear holocaust, or even bluegrass music.

We need to fear God.

I am disheartened when I hear pastors explain away the phrase "fear of the Lord" by claiming that the Hebrew word "yirah", which is often translated "fear", actually means "respect", and therefore we should respect the Lord.

The word actually means "terror", and we need to be absolutely terrified of the Holy One of Israel, the One who can wipe out our very existence with less than a thought.

Far too often we are taught how much Jesus loves us (which is true) and how much the Father desires to be with us (which is also true). But what is equally true is that God is so far "above" us, existentially, that we have no right to speak his name, much less approach him in prayer. We certainly have no right to actually expect him to do things on our behalf.

God is absolutely holy; we are rubbish by comparison. God is absolute holiness; we are less than God's excrement. He is absolute power and majesty; we are lower than the dust. God is transcendence itself; we are nothing.

It disturbs me to hear sermons or read books or see preachers on TV dealing with God as if we are in any way worthy to approach him, or that we are worthy of his love. Christianity is far, far more than "Jesus and I having warm fuzzies together." Christianity is, at times - or needs to be - abject lowliness, complete humility before the presence of God.

When pastors enter the pulpit to proclaim the word of God each Lord's day, we ought to be absolutely terrified at what is about to take place...if we actually believe that what we are proclaiming is the living word of a very real God.

Perhaps if we gained a better appreciation of true fear and the true awesome greatness of God, we could and would live our lives in a more godly fashion, more faithful to his call, more grateful for his mercies. He has no need of us; we have a desperate need for him, and ought to be filled with tearful joy that he allows us to live, and to experience his presence and the joy of redemption in Jesus Christ.

Fear the God who created all and who can destroy all. Don't simply respect God; fear God. He alone is worthy of fear.

Sunday's preaching text

"Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever."

(Psalm 111, NRSV)

Blair & Bush

The big news in the past few days (other than Israel/Lebanon) has been that British security forces arrested two dozen men who are believed to have been plotting a terrorist attack using airplanes leaving Britain bound for the United States. Praise God that this plot was halted.

The real test of the success of the U.S.A.'s so-called "War on Terror" has to be this: has there been another attack by terrorists on U.S. soil? The answer is a definitive: no. This is why I am grateful to and for two good men.

I have profound political and philosophical differences with American President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. That said, I believe both men to be honest men of personal integrity. No evidence has been presented to even suggest anything else.

Now, many folks disagree with - strongly - their politics, and that's fine. When critics attack President Bush or Prime Minister Blair personally, though, that reveals far more about the critic than about these two world leaders.

The fact is that America has not experienced another "Sept. 11". We may yet go through that nightmare again. But to date, we have not. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the tragedy that will in many ways define my generation to history, I am grateful. As President Bush and Prime Minister Blair have pursued an unpopular war against terrorism, they have endured scathing criticism - some justifiable, some of a more personal nature quite unfair. They have watched their popularity decline and their political futures vanish (this is particularly true in the case of Prime Minister Blair, who is not limited by term limit laws as is President Bush).

Yet, despite the criticism and at times meanness of their opponents, they have stood fast. They have declared to the world, "These are the principles we hold dear. This is what we believe in. We will not waver." This they do while maintaining their personal integrity and enduring hateful attacks. This is, of course, a lesson for all of us in Leadership 101.

We have not experienced an attack on U.S. soil since 2001, and that is largely because of the leadership of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair. Agree or not with their policies, this truth is reality.

And so, I say thank you to Prime Minister Blair and the British security forces. I say thank you to President Bush and the American security forces. While I disagree with you in many ways, no planes have fallen from the sky to kill my children. Thank you, and may God be with you and bless you.

Democrat Party in Trouble

For months, we have been hearing how the Republican Party is in trouble because of (legitimate) questions about the War on Terror, especially the Iraqi front. Many politicos and members of the "Big Media" have been salivating at the prospect of the GOP losing the House, the Senate, or both. But today it seems to me that, while the GOP obviously has some issues, the Democrat Party is in even bigger trouble.

The Democrats of Connecticut yesterday refused to renominate Sen. Joseph Lieberman for the U.S. Senate, preferring instead to nominate a political unknown. "Experts" have been telling us that Sen. Lieberman has paid the price for supporting President Bush regarding the War on Terror, particularly the Iraqi front.

There are a few potential problems with the Democrat Party, it seems clear to me...

Problem #1 - RADICALISM: Sen. Lieberman is hardly a "Bush guy". His voting record is decidedly liberal, including a 100% rating from NARAL (a left-wing pro-abortion group), a 100% from the AFL-CIO (the massive left-wing union), a 100% rating from APHA (a left-wing health care lobby), an 86% rating from the NEA (the left-wing teachers' union), and a 0% rating from the Christian Coalition (a right-wing "family values" lobby). He is a solid liberal...a somewhat moderate liberal, mind you, but a liberal nonetheless. The Democrats in Connecticut have tossed out a solid liberal because...he wasn't liberal enough. Will the Democrats continue to slide to the Left, leaving most Americans behind in favor of the liberal elites?

Problem #2 - COOPERATION: Sen. Lieberman is one of the few senators respected on both sides of the aisle. The Democrat Party has lost one of its primary leaders in terms of healing partisan breaches. They've thus made a bold move (as is their right) to support partisan squabbling.

Problem #3 - SEAT LOSS: Sen. Lieberman intends to run as an independent candidate. This will possibly split the Democrat vote and allow the GOP to pick up a seat in the Senate.

Problem #4 - HYPOCRISY: Why is it that when Sen. John McCain goes against the President or the GOP Majority, he is viewed by Democrats and the "Big Media" as a courageous, maverick hero, but when Sen. Lieberman bucks Democrat orthodoxy, he's given the boot? It seems clear that the Democrat Party doesn't really want independent thinkers (not to say that the GOP necessarily does); they want folks who will fall into line and not question the Party authorities. That's a bad sign.

Problem #5 - POTENTIAL INSANITY: What does it say about a political party when it has no trouble hiring a madman to be its chairperson, but refuses to endorse a more reasonable voice like that of Sen. Lieberman?

There's trouble ahead for the Democrat Party, methinks.

Sunday's preaching text

"So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.
Be angry but do not sin;
do not let the sun go down on your anger,
and do not make room for the devil.
Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.
Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice,
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

(Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2, NRSV)

Pete Best

Last evening, I went to see Pete Best (actually, the "Pete Best Band") live at Hartwood Acres in northern Allegheny County. Pete Best was the drummer for the Beatles in their early, formative years, while they were playing in the Cavern in Liverpool and playing 8 hour sets, 7 days a week in Hamburg, Germany. He was fired by the band and their manager Brian Epstein in 1962, when they were signed to a recording contract. The far more inventive Ringo Starr was his replacement. Pete Best labored in obscurity while the Beatles went on to worldwide stardom and acclaim.

I'm happy to say that Pete Best's ship finally came in the in mid-1990s, when The Beatles Anthology series of CDs was released, featuring several recordings the band made in the early 1960s with their old drummer. As a result of those recordings, and the success of the Anthology project (all three double CD sets topped the charts upon their release in 1995 and 1996), Pete Best became a millionaire, and now tours the world with his band.

First, the concert was slightly marred because Pete's opening act was scheduled to be Denny Laine, former guitarist for both Wings and the Moody Blues, but Denny was a no show. But when the Pete Best Band took the stage, it was clear they were there to have fun and give a good show. Essentially, as my brother and I quickly noticed, they are a good oldies band with a gimmick...Pete Best being their gimmick.

Pete was one of two drummers and seemed to do a fine job, playing rock and roll classics (such as "Twist and Shout", "Besame Mucho", and "What'd I Say") and a few very early Beatles numbers ("I Saw Her Standing There", "P.S. I Love You", "Hello Little Girl"). He spoke a few times, recalling the early days with "John, Paul, George, and Stuart" (Stuart Sutcliffe being the Beatles' original bassist, who left the group and died before their fame), and the Liverpudlian band gave the audience a good show.

Surprisingly, thousands of people turned out for the concert on the lawn, and a good time was had by all. It's probably the closest I'll ever get to seeing an actual Beatle.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Today, while I worshipped with my family, ate lunch, and then relaxed with my children as we watched the X-Games on ESPN, Israel and Lebanon saw 80 rockets fired in a 15 minute period. Dozens and dozens and dozens of people are dead because of the current war in the Holy Land...people for whom Jesus died and for whom he expects us to suffer and die, if necessary. Still, Christians around the world continue to support "just war" (as if such a thing were possible). God created a peaceful and harmonious world, and this is the gift we offer our Lord. It is sickening...truly appalling...and the Church is complicit for failing to stand up and say, "No more!" Some days, I'm ashamed of the Church.

Here's a powerful U2 song about war (click on the "play" button)...

Idlewild

Today, we're taking the kids to Idlewild Park in Ligonier, PA. It's a beautiful amusement park and an excellent place for families to spend a day. We took Christian and Kate when they were just wee McIlwains, but this will be the first trip for Claire and Elliot.

Actually, my first job was at the Idlewild attraction known as Story Book Forest. There, in the summer of 1988, I played a dual role of Muffin the Dog in a walking puppet show and Captain Candy on the Good Ship Lollipop. A heatwave that summer made it pretty miserable at times. The highlight, I suppose, was that I dated Goldilocks. Everything you've heard about her is true.

The Beatles at Shea Stadium, 1966

The Beatles, the greatest and most important musical artists of the past century, were so big in their day that they were forced to do something new...perform in sports stadiums to accomodate their fans. Pretty common today, it was unheard of in the 1960s. This is a great clip of their historic concert in New York City. Click on the image to play.

Jesus & the Atkins Diet

"Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35, NRSV)

Jesus claimed to be the bread of life. Both John Wesley and Adam Clarke interpreted this to mean that Jesus is the One who has and who gives life. Ultimately, all of our piety must be focused on and toward Jesus, or we are not partaking of worthwhile food.

Last year, the excellent documentary "Super Size Me" demonstrated what happens when someone lives on McDonald's for 30 days. The results weren't surprising: dramatic weight gain, higher blood pressure, loss of libido, lethargy, fatigue, failure to think clearly, lost productivity, etc. If we fill up on "junk" all the time, our bodies pay the price.

Trying to lose weight, some folks will grab onto the latest fad diet plans. You know what? They usually work!

Several years ago, weight loss guru Gwen Shamblin came up with the "Weigh Down Workshop", a "faith-based" plan to lose weight. Some time later, when consulted about theological concerns over her church and her program, Shamblin famously said, "People don't care about the Trinity; they just want to lose weight." (Incidentally, she still denies the Doctrine of the Trinity on her website!) So...Shamblin's program can result in weight loss, but is still not perfect!

Perhaps no other diet program has been as popular in recent years as the "Atkins Diet". Basically an anti-carbohydrate program, the Atkins Diet requires one to basically give up bread.

Does it work? Yes! People lose weight! Why? Because they're essentially starving themselves!

What an analogy for the Bread of Life! The problem in the contemporary Church isn't whether or not we're relevant (as if the Gospel could ever be irrelevant)...it's that the Church is in the midst of a severe famine. We are starving ourselves because we are not partaking of the Word of God (with a capital W...Jesus) or the word of God (with a lowercase w...the Bible).

We need a little more Jesus; heck, a lot more Jesus. The Church has been seeking to trim down and look a bit more acceptable to the world, via a spiritual Atkins Diet in which we forgot things like...

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God...

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot...

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell...

"I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also...

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock...And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand."

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect..."

(from Matthew 5-7, NRSV)

Difficult, to be sure. C.S. Lewis portayed Jesus as a lion, but reminded us also that he is not a tame lion. Jesus calls for a complete rejection of "self". Our old ideas need to be tossed out in favor of Jesus' radical call. The Church needs to spend more time with Jesus, more time contemplating and acting upon the demands that faithfulness entails, more time in deep prayer and confession of sins, more time seeking the face of Jesus in our neighbors and in "the least of these" in our midst.

The spiritual Atkins Diet needs to go, and we need to taste again the Bread of Life, for only Jesus can fill us and make us complete.