Tuesday with Jesus #25

Monday's Madness #25

Wednesday's Wonder #24

Tuesday with Jesus #24

Monday's Madness #24

"A former Elgin (Illinois) pastor found guilty Wednesday of spanking a girl with a piece of wood in his office admitted he wasn't prepared for the task of counseling a child who claimed to have been sexually abused.

'The situation was over my head,' said Rev. Daryl Bujak, who avoided jail time when he was sentenced to 12 months of supervision. 'I didn't have the ability to deal with the situation I confronted.'

Bujak was found guilty of two counts of battery for spanking the 12-year-old during counseling sessions in 2005 at First Missionary Baptist Church in Elgin. He was accused of beating the girl with a piece of crown molding, in part because he did not believe her allegations."

It's not madness that he was found guilty -- that's actually a sign of some sanity. This is the madness:

"Bujak was found not guilty of violating a state law that requires clergy members to report allegations of sexual abuse."

After all the rightful indignation about clergy abuse and cover-ups you would think not reporting the allegation would be fairly easy to prove in a court before a judge without the emotional baggage a jury brings to the table. I mean it's simple: he didn't report it.

Read the story in the Chicago Tribune.

Sunday's Song #24

In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home
But there's one who holds my hand
The rugged road through barren lands
The way is dark, the road is steep
But He's become my eyes to see
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear
The Savior lives inside me there

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives

In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee

Wednesday's Wonder #23

Tuesday with Jesus #23

and Thomas exclaimed, "my Lord and my God!"

Monday's Madness #23

So if you run your company into the ground and ask the government for billions to bail your company out, you can consider yourself a success if you get the billions for bailout.

After that just pay yourself the bonus your contract for failure requires -- now that you have the money to pay yourself that bonus.

madness plus plus

Sunday's Song #23

Shabath #22

If someone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Someone who doesn't love me doesn't keep my words — and the word you are hearing is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.
I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the advocate, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you.

What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom.

I don't give the way the world gives.
Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened.
You heard me tell you, 'I am leaving, and I will come back to you.'
If you loved me, you would have been glad that I am going to the Father; because the Father is greater than I.

--- John

Hunger and Thirst Day #22

Culture warriors of the 20th/21st centuries would have us believe they are seeking the kingdom of God/Heaven.

Are they?

Historically, very time "the c[C]hurch" has attempted to build any kind of kingdom it has been just like every other kind of kingdom - short sighted, power-hungry, arbitrary, insensitive and corrupt (to name a few flaws).

So what is to be hungered/thirsted for today? Maybe simply believers who will prayerfully read scripture, understand what it teaches (yes, the doctrines), accept the grace of God though faith in Jesus and the atoning work he has done, repent of our sins (especially our self-reliant self-righteousness), deny ourselves and our ways, take up our individual crosses daily, and follow Jesus in all he has commanded.

Wednesday's Wonder #22

Tuesday with Jesus #22

Reading all the recent words spent fighting about abortion, assisted suicide, gay marriage, and stem cell research, I wonder what the example of Jesus was/is?

Did Jesus spend his days arguing with the Romans about their laws regarding abortion?

Or ...

Did Jesus spend his days arguing with the Greeks about homosexuality? [btw: Did Paul argue with the Greek pagans about such topics - or was he following someone else's example?]

Or ...

Did Jesus argue with any civil authority about anything?

Or ...

Did Jesus instruct and show his followers how to behave and why agreeing with God's point of view was important for those who actually followed him?

And ...

Were not ALL of Paul's letters written to believers or those who claimed to be believers?

And ...

Why didn't Jesus [and Paul] take on the civil authorities directly and instruct His followers to do the same?

And ...

Were not Jesus' words, and Paul's after him, directed to those who were supposed to be the "light to the nations" or something like that?

And, finally, ...

What is the log of self-righteousness?

Hint: Matthew 7

Monday's Madness #22

John recorded these words of Jesus, "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you, too!" Matthew explained, "How blessed are those who are persecuted because they pursue righteousness! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great — they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way."

And now we have news like this: "Church pastor killed during service."

All the details are not available; there is news of a mental disorder due to Lyme Disease. Even if that is the case, which identifies even the victimizer as a victim, I have to ask if this still isn't a kind of persecution?

What do I mean? Well, even if some mental or medical deficiency is a contributing factor, why was a pastor of a church targeted? The deficiency may have removed filters, inhibitions and the "DON'T" button, but the target was the church for some reason. I have strong doubt that the target was random - though I could be wrong. How much planning went into this act and what underlying motives are there for targeting a [this?] church or its [this?] pastor.

It seems to me that this was an act of persecution because its target was a church and pastor and the attack was carried out during an assembly of the congregation in order to have maximum effect.

As more information becomes available, I will add comments here.

Sunday's Song #22

the man:

[ check out the movie's site.]

the music:

Amazing Grace (How sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall profess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

Shabath #21

After more than two weeks of contending with the flu and some bronchial thing, and now, having a much clearer head and lungs, I am back to this blog. Well, at least I'm doing the preparation for picking up again in earnest on Monday, March 9.

Today and tomorrow will be days of real physical rest, continued preparation, thanksgiving, worship and prayer.

Peace and grace to all.