Move over Robertson and Lahaye

I know that bad press is better than no press at all, so I shouldn't be saying anything at all. Nevertheless, Tim Lahaye and Pat Robertson have had their due. John Hagee makes these guys look like playschool children. When it comes to spreading hate and lies Hagee takes rhetoric to the next level. If Robertson makes the press squirm why isn't Hagee even on the radar? In his new book Jerusalem Countdown he predicts an attack on Jerusalem by Iran and the Pentagon's plan for use of nukes against seven countries. As long as we're on the right side (Israel) we've got nothing to fear. The elephant in the room however is the question "Whose side is Israel on?" John Hagee's? I am baffled at how TBN could ditch Hal Lindsey for hateful rhetoric and think that somehow John Hagee is so much nicer. He writes:
"This is a religious war that Islam cannot--and must not--win. It was God Himself who have the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants forever. Israel belongs to God and to His chosen people, the Jews. And God holds the future of Israel in His hands, and it will be a glorious future."
Our prayers should be for the kids who get raised here in America hearing this kind of hateful crap day in and day out. Quite honestly I see little difference between this and the white supremist language our society so abhors. Its true the Jews and Blacks used to be the brunt of Christian hate rhetoric. John Hagee is one insuring that in this century it will be the Arabs. Hey Washington, one of your biggest friends in the War on Terror may just be a volatile reverse-jihadist.
Let me make it clear, Hagee is a war monger plain and simple. Thankfully he doesn't speak for Jesus or the Christian position.

laugh 'til you ache and cry

http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/newsletter/Insider034.html

sometimes Wikipedia

Sometimes I really score with Wikipedia, as in the case of my little study of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Binding of Isaac is an awesome entry.

Martha and I got away and saw Syriana the other night. Go see this movie. The screenplay is now free online. They also have a discussion going at participate.net about oil dependence.

The book is finally going well like never before. Its a spiritual memoir that takes the reader through my life growing up in a radical Christian community with an eye toward these points:

1. the faith of my youth
2. Jesus Inc.
3. the physical, emotional, and spiritual promises of American religion
4. religious power wed with political power in America
5. the silent acceptance and muted allegiance to policy makers
6. addiction and powerlessness. Jesus and the twelfth tradition: anonymity
7. developing a manner of living that demands rigorous honesty

As a friend put it recently, these points are severely rhetorical and my execution through personal narrative is everything. Can I pull it off? That remains to be seen. These themes may change but at this time I feel pretty attached to all of them.

Ok, that's better. Well I've got to go back and read all those little pamphlets on the Ekklesia Project website to try and get a clue. I've posted a few times about the book but it must be the off season cuz none of the ole timers are responding. I meant to work on my book today but its lunch time now. Well maybe later.

I just finished Resident Aliens by Hauerwas and Willimon. I wish this book had been recommended to me long ago. As it turns out there are a few people who still take the church seriously in America and are optimistic that both pastor and congregation can shed America's designated position for the church for thE IT"S RIGHTFUL ROLE AS A GOSPEL BEARING JESUS FOLLOWING COLONY OF RESIDENT ALIENS> IM NOT TRYING TO SHOUT MY KEYBOARD IS ACTING WEIRD>

Pick and choose

"OK Jesus, I'll be part of your church but I want to pick and choose my
friends based on whether or not they agree with me or whether we have
things in common. I've got a checklist here involving politics, liturgy,
art, philosophy and theology. As soon as the preacher really has
something to say that I haven't heard before or that I can resonate with
based on my list, than I'll let his words sink in. As soon as our
worship team sounds as good as my CDs than I'll really "enter in." As
soon as the whole congregation gets a clue on the current geo-political
situation than I'll start really hanging out here. As soon as you people
give me some reason not to pull away from the parking lot at noon I'll
do that. Sheesh, who needs the church?!!"
What sort of place does that kind of thinking have in building up the
Kingdom? Uh. . . . I'll get back to you on that one.

In Rotation this week for me is my own little compilation of Mason Proffit and the Talbot Brothers. If you're into Gram Parsons (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers), Little Feat, or New Riders of the Purple Sage, but have never heard these guys, then try to dig some up from somewhere! Mason Proffit is selling some on their website. Terry Talbot has got the band back together sans John Michael (as far as I know). Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if somehow enough folks got together to push them to do a box set? I mean come on, Mason Proffit was better than a lot of bands live that now have box sets out. No Depression mag should unearth them again by interviewing Terry Talbot. BTW, I got the Return to Sin City Tribute to Gram Parsons DVD recently and the lap steel virtuoso that backed the whole concert was none other than Al Perkins, who is now with Mason Proffit!

"Country Boys" looks like a very intriguing program on PBS tomorrow night.
Its part of a focused effort to engage local community and civic groups to focus on
current at-risk teen issues. Watch it on TV or online at Frontline's website after it airs.
There's another link here for a discussion guide and other resources.
I definitely resonate with the need for this as I spent my teen years in a small town in central Missouri and watched many of my peers self destruct.
Frontline
ITVC Campaign

I'm constitutionally a selfish liar. No that's not a self effacing attempt at modesty, its the truth I must face about myself every day. Its the touchstone for understanding myself. That self awareness is part of my journey toward learning how to love. Is it really in a man to love? Can I possibly live in selfless truth-love in the manner of Jesus Christ? And in this way be a true disciple? I'm attacking my book with this question in mind. If, God willing, I finish it I pray that it could be an act of devotion and worship, creating a little map of my life and thought journey (my story) as a witness that someone may benefit by. That all sounds really noble. Truth is, it will take a lot of editing. Wrestling my thoughts away from bitterness, profanity, and hate and shaping them into devotion will be a small miracle in itself. God help me.

I Wish. . .

If'n I were a money'd individual I'd be at the Cathedral college for Bonhoeffer’s Spirituality and Sermons: A Retreat with Victoria Barnett. Feb. 7-10. $600. If anyone would like to sponsor me a couple grand (airfaire, hotel, conference) to go I'd keep good notes and blog it all for ya! Victoria Barnett is the English editor of Bethge's Biography of Bonhoeffer and one of the general editors of the English work project. Someday I'm gonna afford to do something like this before I die. If I had a smoking habit I'd save that money and do this. But I don't. My wife and I spend $7.00 on coffee every month. But I don't think we could give that up. Oh well. . . .

In the Works

I've been asked in the past if I've ever had a desire to write my own book. I'm so shy about it, but yes now I'm actually outlining a small book of personal history and ideology. I found this little paperback over Christmas that is very lightweight and simple and I thought that if I could keep my thoughts brief and to the point I could see doing something like that. Maybe I'd have a small audience but hey what the heck right? It'd be a handy thing. Literally.

Pray for Palestine and Israel

It doesn't look like Ariel Sharon is going to make it. I'm praying for his healing. Still Israel is facing realities and suiting up his successor. These last five years have been earthquake proportion for this little region on the planet. Let's face it, with clear eyes I have to admit that Ariel Sharon has brought Israel further forward in recognizing Palestine's nationality and autonomy than any other previous Prime Minister. Even Yitzhak Rabin could not fully bring himself to make the public declarations of intent for Palestinian autonomy and nationality Sharon has made and of course would have never considered a pull out from Gaza. Now of course you know the other hand, that Sharon has been more militant that any before and made targeted killings a norm for any future administrations. Though hopefully his history would show they don't work. Let us pray for peace and the reality of a new strong state for Palestine. Elections will be held soon. We all know from recent history that Israel gives very little autonomy or trust to new Palestinian governments. With honest knowledge of Israel's history let's pray for her future. Even in the face of Military and Corporate control and desire, I pray that God would bring these two peoples to share the land and live prosperously. These people have much to teach us about the possibilities for coexistence. God loves humans, specifically these humans, and he loves His Creation. Let's pray and work for the redemption of it in accordance with His Will.