Kirkogitation

Smokey Bear

Mon, 23 May 2011 16:29:33 GMT

Here's this week's Bible reflection:

From age 3 to about 5, I had a constant companion. It was my stuffed Smokey Bear doll. I didn’t care that the character sought to build awareness about forest fire prevention. I just knew that when I was scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, holding Smokey in one hand and sucking the thumb of the other made me feel better. I went through at least three Smokeys in those years. Each time I got a new one it took at least a few weeks before it felt right.

Nowadays I don’t have Smokey. I still do have many times where I feel scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, however. A hug from my partner, playing guitar, singing out loud, watching TV, listening to the radio, or staring at a computer screen make me feel better nowadays.

What? I didn’t mention praying or worshipping?

No. I love worship and prayer, but it isn’t the first thing I think of when I’m not feeling my best. I usually (no not always) feel better at the end of a worship service or after praying than I did before. But when I’m feeling out of sorts, I don’t have an automatic thought of “I need to get myself to church.”

Jesus was saying good-bye and the disciples were upset. They were confused. They didn’t know what was coming next. And Jesus didn’t tell them to go to church. He told them to love. And he told them that he would send them an advocate; a counselor; a comforter to help them to feel better.

Thank you, Spirit, for being present in Smokey, my partner, a guitar, in song, in the television, on the radio, and on a computer screen.

How does the Spirit comfort you?

Enduring witness

Sun, 22 May 2011 17:37:08 GMT

This week's Bible reflection (La la la la la la. I’m not listening!) is now expanded and it has become Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
"Enduring Witness" text
"Enduring Witness" podcast

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Fri, 20 May 2011 21:33:10 GMT

I saw an opening day matinee of the latest Johnny-Depp-as-Keith-Richards Pirate film. Here's my short review:

Like an action movie amusement ride with a story that arrives near the end.

Here's a little more:

I liked this movie. Where the story was hardly present, the action, visuals, characters, and music more than made up.
Johnny Depp's portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow is, again, worth the price of admission.
Favorite short, depth-filled line during the "not much of a story" part: "Who are you to put a limit on redemption?" Who is anyone?
Astrid Berges-Frisbey doesn't have a huge role, but I think we'll be seeing much more of her in Hollywood.

Of course there will be another one. I will see it, too.

La la la la la la. I'm not listening!

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:44:32 GMT

Stephen was one of the leaders of the early church – the church that spent time together, ate meals together, looked out for one another, and sought goodwill for all the people. . . for a little while.

Stephen made other religious leaders (the Pharisees and the Sadducees) nervous. The Jesus followers were becoming more than a nuisance. They didn’t want any more people messing with their rules. They planted false stories about him. They spread untrue rumors about him. They put him on trial on false charges.

And during the trial, Stephen had a vision. He saw “the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Those who wanted Stephen gone didn’t want to hear it. They didn’t want to see it. They were not willing to listen to anything except their narrow thoughts. They were not willing to listen to any voice save one that agreed with them. They weren’t willing to open their eyes to any possibility other than one that fit their agenda.

And they killed Stephen.

Stephen is lifted up a Christian martyr. He is lifted up as one who remained a true follower of Jesus until his untimely death.

And it didn’t have to be that way.

This isn’t a good story. It’s a story of a murder. It’s the story of lies and jealousy and hatred and violence and murder. It’s the story of closed minds and lies and jealousy and hatred and murder.

It is a story that is too often repeated.

Closed minds
Lies
Jealousy
Hatred
Violence
Murder.

They are all toxic. We can live better without them.

Devoted

Sun, 15 May 2011 18:12:49 GMT

This week's Bible reflection (Together) is a really short version of what is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Devoted" text
"Devoted" podcast

Movies I'll probably see this summer

Wed, 11 May 2011 18:23:29 GMT

Amid a whole crop of 'meh' films releasing this summer, here are a few I think I'll see.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – Because I really like this franchise. I hope this film doesn’t stink.
Kung Fu Panda 2 – I expect silliness and fun. I also expect lots of laughter. I might be pleasantly surprised by a good film, too.
Super 8 – Sure, I like science fiction/horror films. But I want to see this one because I think Kyle Chandler is a marvelous actor.
Cars 2 – Pixar. Enough said.
Larry Crowne – This one might be the sleeper hit of the summer.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part 2 – So is everyone else.
Cowboys & Aliens – I think this one could be great. It could be awful, too.

I'll post reviews for several as I see 'em.

Together

Mon, 09 May 2011 16:27:59 GMT

Here's this week's Bible reflection:

The early church spent time . . . together.
The early church ate meals . . . together.
They looked out for one another.
They sought goodwill for all the people.

Sure – things didn’t last that way. People got tired of being so ‘together.’ Some folks wanted more than they needed. Greed and jealousy set in. Radio and TV commentators started calling them socialists.

But God has a way of making it right anyway. God never gives up. God never loses hope. God never stops loving all of creation.

And God still knows the best way to live is to love God and to love everyone.

And we still have great examples of what that looks like:

Spending time together.
Sharing meals together.
Looking out for one another.
Seeking goodwill for all the people.

Together.