progressive involvement

Nothing new under the sun

Comments written in church newsletters, 1935-1955:  "Youth who have been confirmed are not coming to church;  we must change this."  "We need you to keep up on your financial stewardship, or we can't keep the lights on."  "Things are different today, peoples' lives are busy now, schedules are full, but an hour on Sunday is not too much to ask."  "If you want your pastor to visit you in the hospital, you must tell him you are there."

Denver's 9News on the Carter Work Project

 

Metro Denver Habitat to host 2013 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project

The very first Habitat for Humanity Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project was held in New York City in 1983.  

The 30th now-annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project will begin in Oakland, continue in Denver, then conclude in New York City, October 6-13, 2013.

Each year, the Carters have participated in the event that bears their name.  Volunteers are told not to interrupt them during the work day because they're there to work!  

President Carter is now 88 years old and still builds Habitat houses, though says his knees aren't as good as they were when he was 85.  Metro Denver Habitat will be building 11 new homes and 15 repairs in connection with the event.

 

Republicans and Democrats agree!

No cuts to Medicare.  

The Asian vote used to go Republican

President Obama received even more of the Asian vote (73%) than he did the much-touted Latino vote (71%).

Lectionary blogging: Luke 21: 25-36

25 ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’

29 Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34 ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’

Translation:  "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars and, upon the earth, anguish of nations in perplexity, sound of sea and waves, people breathing out of life from fear and expectation of what is coming upon the inhabited world, for the powers of heavens will be shaken. 

Then, they will see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  But when these things begin to come, stand up and lift up your heads for your deliverance is drawing near."

And he said a parable to them, "Behold the fig tree and all the trees.  When they shoot forth leaves now, you see (and) know for yourselves that now the summer is at hand.  So and you, when you see these things coming to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Truly I say to you that this generation might surely not pass until all might be fulfilled.  The heaven and the earth will pass, but my words will surely not pass.

But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down in excess and drink and distractions of life and that day come upon you unawares like a snare.  For it will come upon all the ones dwelling on the face of all the earth.  But watch in all times, praying that you might have strength to escape these things, all the things coming to be, and to be stood before the son of man."

The apple has fallen, far from the tree

Most Christians are of the Matthew 6 variety, i.e. they don't show off their religiosity in front of others on the grounds that Jesus said not to.  

Some, however, are apparently unaware of Jesus' remarks in this regard, and they regularly feel compelled to opine on the dreary moral state of the nation.  We're lost and gone, says Franklin Graham, because Pres. Obama was re-elected:

"In the last four years, we have begun to turn our backs on God," he said. "We have taken God out of our education system. We have taken him out of government. You have lawyers that sue you every time you mention the name of Jesus Christ in any kind of a public forum."

I don't think Pres. Obama has done any of this, which makes it rather like the NRA griping about Pres. Obama taking peoples' guns when the only new gun policy of the administration is to allow guns in the public parks.

Secondly, big whoop.  The religious right has been griping about all this, and much more, for about 50 years, ever since the Supreme Court outlawed forced prayer in schools, thereby "taking God out."  (Rather a small God if he can be so easily pushed around.)

Franklin Graham is one of those fellows who, around the age of 20, rode a motorcycle for a couple of weeks and might have drank a beer.  This was in his rebellious period.  Then, he repented from this awful folly, saw that "father knew best" all along, turned from his evil ways, and took his place as the head of a multi-million dollar religious and charitable organization.  

Since then, contra Matthew 6, he has regularly kept the rest of us informed on all the ways we fall short.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Hillary brokers middle east deal

Israel and Hamas just agreed to a ceasefire, which will begin this afternoon.  New York Times:

“This is a critical moment for the region,” Mrs. Clinton, who rushed to the Middle East late Tuesday in an intensified effort to halt the hostilities, told reporters in Cairo. She thanked Egypt’s president, Mohamed Morsi, who played a pivotal role in the negotiations, for “assuming the leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone of regional stability and peace.”

Photo:  Egyptian State Television