early sign of what we may be facing

My sister tipped me off to what is happening in Ada, Oklahoma. I think that as it becomes increasingly clear that Obama will be the next president, that some pus is going to seep out of our nation's racist wound.

http://www.koco.com/news/17724300/detail.html

Silly Season!

Because of all the financial panic going on, I thought I would click on The Drudge Report to see what was being drudged up. Here is an example of silly season in the world of politics. Cindy McCain, bless her heart, accused Barack Obama of running the dirtiest political in the 232 years of American history, including 44 presidential campaigns. To their credit, the Obama campaign has not responded to this accusation. Read about here... http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93N50180&show_article=1

The October Surprise

I believe that the financial meltdown is the October surprise. Maybe something else will happen between now and election day. But this is it, and it seems to be playing to Obama's strength. I think it is increasingly likely that Obama will be elected, and will have the pleasure of inheriting a once in a generation economic mess to cap off a long list of newly created or exacerbated problems left from the Bush administration. Bush, by the way, has pretty much checked out and is counting down the days to his freedom from Washington and return to the ranch.

If there was ever a time in my life where we needed a president that can communicate confidence and calm, and inspire people to come together and work hard for the future, it's now. And I am confident that Obama can be the communicator that is needed. I've consistently believed that the power of the president to fix things is severely limited. The president doesn't set policies or pass laws. But the president can set the tone. The president can conjur up a compelling vision. And a good tone is what we need. Obama can deliver it. I believe Obama is in the same league, communication wise, as Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, F.D.R. and Abraham Lincoln.

Of course, only time will tell.

A brief history lesson

Go to www.keatingeconomics.com for a brief walk down memory lane to the S&L Crisis, Charles Keating and the Keating 5.

the sin of pollution

The ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew has been called the "Green Bishop." There is a 10 minute video about these unique symposiums Bartholomew has led on board ships that cruise through bodies of water that are experiencing threats due to pollution. The video is a little dated. You will get to see Pope John Paul, I believe only a few months before his passing. I think I read somewhere that next year Bartholomew will hold one of these symposiums while cruising down the Mississippi River.

www.goarch.org

two weekends of camping

Second weekend in a row going camping with the boys. No rain and cool temperatures have been perfect camping weather. If I can figure out how to transfer pictures from my cell phone to the computer, I'll post a couple things we experienced. This weekend's cub scout camp was next to St. Rita's School for the Deaf. I-75 was in eye shot and ear shot. This is what you call "urban camping." We had a great camp fire program. The executive director of the Freedom Center was there to tell his story about his family. His family were enslaved by Col. Westmoreland. There were also two actors who portrayed a man who helped escaped slaves through the Underground and another man who talked about being born a slave and able to be free. It made a good impression on my boys. The morning was bb guns and bows and arrows. We also had some Civil War reenactment folks who shot off a cannon and some muskets and showed off some artifacts. We were all done before lunch. After two weekends in a row, everyone is camped out.

It's Been Awhile

It has been a long time. But, I thought the first of a month, in this case, October, would be an excuse to get back to blogging. Happens to be the beginning of the Jewish New Year, so, why not.

Anyway, politics has been crazy and religion, at least for me, has been intense. I'm tired of the politics and can't wait for the election to be over. As for religion...I have been exploring Orthodoxy with great earnestness the past several months. I have even been attending an Orthodoxy 101 class at the Greek Orthodox church only a few miles from where I live. Check it out at http://www.holytrinity.oh.goarch.org/ . I talked to Fr. Bill about the core of my predicament, which is if it is possible to be a United Methodist and an Orthodox Christian at the same time. Unfortunately, he said I can't have it both ways.

I am committed to the United Methodist church and do not consider my ordination invalid or my place as a pastor in the United Methodist church as the wrong place for me. I believe God still wills me to be a United Methodist pastor. And yet, I remain very drawn to the fullness of orthodoxy, particularly its worship life and richness of its tradition. My spirit is strongly fed by my experience of orthodox worship and prayer. I am feeling pulled in that direction. So, does God want me to remain as a pastor in the UMC, or is God beckoning me to leave my ancestral home and go to another land that He will show me?

As I move into the fourth decade of my life, I feel myself also moving into a new place in my spiritual journey. Destination at the moment is unknown.