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Saturday, Nov 7, 2009
I've driven by that church a time or two. It ought to have its own ZIP Code. As for the members and their ways, I once attended and participated in a similar church (I went to most of them through my life, before converting to a particular belief 26 years ago). The most striking things are (1) the emotionalism there, that masquerades as a trusting faith; and (2) the manner in which the advocates have no tolerance for any other belief, practice, or what they see as willful "deafness." You will do as they say and do, or you are powder!! I have often wondered if they have relatives in Germany . . .
AMEN PASTOR!!! PREACH BROTHER!!!
Trinity alligned itself with Farrakhan, the demagogic Rev Meeks, the radical Catholic Pfleger, Hamas.
Such spiritual nobility - appealing to hatred and resentment and jealousy: Hate your country, envy your neighbors who are better off, hate those who have succeeded through their own efforts. Dream up new grievances.
What a lovely way to lift us up and appeal to the better parts of our nature.
And what does Saloon do, if not stir up hatred and resentment every day?
"Just to cover up the fact that I was: snorting cocaine during my formative years and developing a persona that, other than the tragic slaughter of the innocent unborn, was totally devoid of principle; and, ( in contrast to John McCain who sculpted his character while being tortured as a POW in Hanoi), allowed me to adroitly flex with the prevailing political winds; cavort with treasonous elements who had blown up U.S. Government buildings; attempt to undermine our military members while they were engaged in combat; and, contribute to fanatics who were condemning America under the guise of religion; I PERSONALLY will not question the patriotism of my opponent; but, you can anticipate a steady stream of my surrogates, such as professional front-man Wesley Clark who was relieved of his military command for reasons of integrity, that I will dispatch to slime my opponent's patriotism on my behalf. I'm sure that you will support me in this most noble of endeavors." Commentary that would be given by Barrack Obama to his left-wing supporters in San Francisco if he was assured that bitter small town folks clinging to their religion were prohibited from recording his comments. Greg Neubeck
Recently Canada tried to force unionization on Walmart, and Walmart decided to leave Canada.
ORly?
Then where the hell did I buy that beach towel on Saturday for my upcoming trip to Cuba*?
*I swear to god, it's true. Cuba. What a nice little extra kick in the pants.
than to have participated in the damning of America by sitting in a Bush-voting congregation.
Listen up, Bush voters. You've crippled America with debt, war, and failing to adapt to the end of oil. Now, you're demonstrating that you've learned nothing by voting for McCain. You are and will always be Bush voters and you'll always likely lack the courage to admit to your country-crippling errors.
Trinity UCC is large because it has, over the course of the last four decades, done extremely creative ministry in the southside of Chicago - a place with many complexities in the neighborhoods of that city. It was a church that was dying when Jeremiah Wright was called to serve as its pastor.
Jeremiah Wright, in fact, used his skills and gifts from God to give shape to that wonderful and so-called "mega church" ministry. One is utterly foolish if they think the work of 36 years can be encapsulated in a four second soundbyte. Incidently, I've heard him preach in person and he is a powerful preacher. One of the best, in fact, that I have ever heard. His style is not my style. I'm far quieter, reflective, gently prodding. Both of the styles are found in Biblical discourse. You might have heard of Elijah. Of Amos. Of Jeremiah. They were not wallflowers. Amos preached only one sermon before being run out of town. Was his - and their - message(s) not from God?
Second point - Do you know all the layers of complexity with Farrakhan and Wright's relationship? I'm no support of Farrakhan at all and I certainly don't agree with everything he says or does by any stretch of the imagination, but do you know why Wright might have praised him? I bet you don't. And if you don't have a clue, you shouldn't make charges.
Third point - in regards to the Roman Catholic priest who made his inflammatory comments which was the "straw that broke the camel's back" regarding Obama and his home church. Here's the truth. There are Christians - laity and clergy - who are, to be kind, off the charts for whatever reason. I bet everyone who reads these letters and who go to church on a regular basis has heard something they don't agree with - even intensely. But we call on the Obamas with outrage and hate that they should they quit their home church because of it. The church that has nurtured them and given life-enhancing relationships. How dare us in our arrogance.
The "problem" with Rev. Wright is that he had a member of his church running for president. And the political forces in opposition would - and will - do anything to bring down someone opposing their candidate. Why else would someone scour through 36 years of sermons? I preach every week and I have no interest in hearing the sound of my own voice ad nauseum. Why would anyone else focus on this person, all those years, save to find whatever piece of "damning evidence" they could possibly find?
Here's the good news when we all get through with this. Will Campbell, the Southern Baptist iconoclastic preacher without a pulpit wrote in his book *Brother to a Dragonfly* "We're all bastards but God still loves us anyway."
You see, God loves Jeremiah Wright. God loves Ted Haggard. God loves Jim Bakker. God loves Jimmy Swaggart. God loves us regardless of our politics, whether we have it "right" or not, and even though we stumble through life as though looking through a glass darkly. One day we will see clearly.
I'm hoping, trusting, and believing that's true.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The Maine fight was supposed to be the dress rehearsal for repealing California's Prop. 8 -- but gay marriage lost
Once one obtains Seriousness credentials in the Washington media, they are irrevocable no matter one's conduct.
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