Innerdriving

Well, religion and politics have been back in the news again.  Initially, it was ever so slightly tempting to join the argument and add my 2 cents, but I don't know that I would have said anything that might even approach being worth 2 cents. I read a lot that was worth even less.   It did strike me, however, that I could not remember off the top of my head what chapter 13 of the Epistle to the Romans even says.  So I pulled out my Bible and started reading.  I promised the good folks at St. Matthias that I would write about what I learned and I had planned to post these pontifications last week.  But it felt a little too soon.  Then there was more media coverage and that pushed it back until now. The Disclaimer.  I have political views and I have "religion and politics" views.  My thoughts here are not in any way intended to be political.  My opinion of both major political parties, politicians, and all 24-hour "news" channel...

Pentecost 5, Proper 7B Mark 4:35-41 June 24, 2012 St. Matthias I recently found an old pair of binoculars - I’d forgotten about.  Remember when you were growing up and how cool binoculars were.  My little brother, me, and our friends were explorers searching uncharted territory in the backyard, space travelers landing on faraway planets, and the smallest bugs, lizards, and tadpoles were giant monsters ready to destroy the world except that we were the superheroes coming to the rescue.             Then you could turn them around.  Look through the other end of the binoculars and everything close was suddenly a universe away.  It was all in our imagination. That’s the way it is in life even when we grow up.  Big things can look small and vice versa.  Often times things get turned around so that we aren’t really sure what it is we see. That is perhaps how it looked from a boat with Jes...

Pentecost 4, Proper 6B Mark 4:26-34 June 17, 2018 St. Matthias There are many things I do in the Church, but I would have to say that packing and sharing Beans and Rice is now one of my favorites along with packing food boxes at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.  Something happens – I can’t explain it, but I know it with all certainty.  Somehow in the simple act of sharing the simplest of food with those in need – God works.  And I get to be a part of it.  It’s like Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday all rolled into one.    Now we have been doing this for more than 3 years and Carol tells me we have fed over 6000 families.  I like to post pictures on Facebook to share.  Alma and others do too.  We have started to get to know some of the regulars.  Malcolm, Dwight, and others have invited folks to Church.  I don’t know that anyone has accepted our invitation yet – but I have hope and someday they will.  You se...

Proper 5B 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 June 10, 2018 St. Matthias            I spent the past week at Camp McDowell with 110 middle school students.  It was great.  We had a blast.  We canoed on Clear Creek and took hikes to the cross and talked about how God loves us even in our awkwardness.  And let's face it, every middle schooler is awkward to some degree.  Most adults are too.  There was steal the flag, arts and crafts, and we even walked on water - in the swimming pool - one night during Compline.  We believe that was a first for Camp McDowell.  And we saw God throughout the week - in the faces of kids and counselors alike.  Did you know that if we are all created in the image of God, then God must look like all of us - like everyone in the world and more?  That’s what you think about when you go to Camp McDowell.            And now that...