Out the Door

General Conference begins with a picture of contrasts

Only a couple of days of General Conference have passed and already there have been examples of the contrasts that exist within the UMC.  On the one hand there's the story of Katherine Commale:

When Katherine Commale learned at age 5 that—somewhere in the world—a child dies from mosquito-borne malaria every 30 seconds, she said, “Mom, we need to send them bed nets right away.”

Her mother, Lynda, agreed. Now age 7, Katherine has collected more than $40,000 to send insecticide-treated sleeping nets to Africa as part of the Nothing But Nets campaign, supported by the people of The United Methodist Church.

In a convention center arena filled with thousands of delegates and guests, Katherine told the 2008 United Methodist General Conference that she wants “everyone who needs one to have a bed net.”

The brown-eyed youngster was introduced April 24 as a sign of hope in a denomination besieged in recent decades with steady U.S. declines in the numbers of members, worship attendance, professions of faith and baptisms. In 2006, the average age of United Methodists was over age 50, while less than 4 percent of its clergy was under the age of 35.

“Thank you for being a witness, a model for the rest of us,” Bishop John Hopkins told Katherine on the assembly stage as the audience applauded.  (UMNS)

On the other hand there's the story of Drew Phoenix.

Here we have stories about a child who has a vision far bigger than her years and an adult whose vision is a self-centered quest for "wholeness."  One makes me want to stand up and cheer and the other hang my head and weep.  One makes me think that the UMC has a future, the other that we are doomed as a denomination.

Let us pray that as GC goes forward we'll hear more stories like Katherine's and less like Drew's.

Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

All the good things of this world will never bring us satisfaction or contentment.  Only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied.

Watch video

The irony of the pro-choice movement part 2

I took Carlos & Wayne's advice and checked out what Adam Hamilton says about the Newsweek article on his blog.  I also read the chapter on abortion which has been posted.

I have to say, I find little in the chapter that I can take issue with.  My questions about how anyone can be pro-abortion remain.  Abortion stands in such stark contrast to the image of a life-giving God.  Hamilton affirms that belief, I believe conception is a miraculous event in which we have become cocreators with God, and is to be violated only under the most extreme of situations. (page 159)

There may be extreem situation such as when the mother's life is in danger that terminating the pregnancy is justified.  But note I use the word "mother" for that is who she is.  The child she carries is not just a fetus.  I've never heard a wanted child referred to a fetus.  Nor have I ever seen a woman wearing a shirt that said, "Fetus on board."  Whether an unborn child is wanted or not does not change his/her status as a human being.

Because I based part one of this post on misinterpreted information from what I thought was a reliable source, Newsweek, I have chosen to delete it.  I don't want to perpetuate the misinformation and would refer my readers to the book itself.  Thank you to Carlos and Wayne for pointing me in the right direction.

Goodbye to an old friend

We had to say goodbye to our dog Shadow this week.  A number of physical problems made it necessary to have him put to sleep. We've had him for almost 16 years, ever since Josh found him as a pup at Grand Meadow Heritage Days.   Julie & I keep thinking that when we walk into our house, Shadow should be coming to greet us.  Though he was in our care, he was always Josh's dog.  Josh's senior pictures that hang on our wall include Shadow.

Genesis chapter two says that when God saw that Adam needed companionship, God created animals.  There's no other connection on earth like the connection between a person and his/her pet.  As Shadow drifted off, I said a prayer of thanks to God for his friendship with tears in my eyes.

We've already started looking for a new puppy.  Both Julie & I agree that life just isn't the same without a dog.  If we can find one that is as friendly as Shadow we will be blessed indeed.