Trip Around the Sun
48 of 52 –
Have traveled about
539,000,000 miles - 4 weeks to finish the Trip Around
the Sun.
An Upper Sent from a Friend:
A story tells that two friends were walking through the
desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument, and one friend
slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but
without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:
"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE"
They kept on walking, until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a
bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning,
but his friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he carved
on a stone:
"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE"
The friend, who had slapped and saved his best friend, asked him, "After I
hurt you, you wrote in the sand, and now, you carve on a stone, why?" The
other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in
sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away, but then someone does something good for us, we must engrave it
in stone, where no wind can ever erase it."
From a
Friend:
I have noticed that during
when the Cole was attacked,
think that he knew what he was doing.
If had he done something about it,
it would have fed into the terrorist's plot to get us
stirred up. Right now we are feeding into the
terrorists’ hunger for a conflict. And we are
fighting the wrong people and for the wrong reasons.
The terrorists probably knew which president would
have the most emotional reaction. Bin
Laden is cheering when
we ought to have him sobbing. “Oh
look,” says he, “It
took more than a year, but we finally
have them terrorized.”
Response:
From
Atheists:
How much
should atheists contribute to easing the suffering of others? Theism makes this
claim that it can stop suffering if and only if you believe. Atheism doesn't
have that kind of seductive dogma. We are left to our own education and reason.
Unlike theism, we have no panacea, but we can offer our individual perceptions.
This is why
(Name) has made this list a support group, but it took the rest of us to carry
it out. We don't have some infinite power, but we do have our basic human
compassion.
I feel that we should give as much positive support as is possible.
(Name)
Response:
(Name) - I have seen this, of course, in the group - and have an appreciation
for it. There are some here who need this support - and don't have the option,
philosophically, of accepting it from a church.
But it is not true that religious organizations help only believers. The
Mormons, for example, have helped me a great deal for many years. They argue
with me about beliefs, of course, but my lack of them has never been a
deterrent to their helpfulness. I've also done a part helping others among
them. It has been of great value – both because I needed the help raising our
five kids – and because I needed to feel of some import myself - belief in all
the dogma or not. There really are some good ones (churches.)
From East of
here:
"You can't surrender easily; we should fight,"
said
Ahmed, the man at the barber shop. "Our religion says
we should fight for our honor. We fear God. We're more
afraid of God than we're afraid of the Americans."
(That’s what He wants – for us to fear Him? Old Testament garbage. And these poor people have
essentially only that – a version of the Old Testament. They are so afraid of
God (Allah), that they can’t accept that we may be there to help them. Should
this surprise us?)
A
relative asked me:
If we
are trying to take weapons of mass destruction away
from
We are
no better than other countries, if we possess the same
capable
weapons, are we?
Response:
We believe
that we are more responsible – and can handle the power.
We
don't set examples like this – We will not get rid of our weapons of mass
destruction – and we certainly will not allow inspectors - we dictate the rules
- that's what lone super powers have always done.
It's
been quite a while since the World has had a lone super power.
While
we believed the
We may
not be responsible enough for it - No one else has ever been. That’s the
history. Who said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”? Are
we immune to this?
Many
times rules are made for others to follow – when the rule maker has no
intention of following the rules themselves. God says, “Thou shalt not kill,” but sends an angel to kill all the
firstborn of the Egyptians. This is too much power – and evidently absolute
power can corrupt even God – as we view Him not only allowing evil – but doing
it and asking for it over and over – especially as reported in the Old
Testament. This is too much power.
Do we
give this power to Him? Or does He have it independently of us? It’s easy not
to take responsibility.
TidBit:
The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his
own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.
-
George
Orwell
The Visit:
(I’m
having some fear that next year – always attending the same church – is going
to be a bit boring. I suppose I will simply have to stir things a little along
the way.)
The
meeting starts at
From
the program:
We are
REFORMED in our faith and practice according to the Scriptures as summarized
during the Protestant Reformation in the Three Forms of Unity: Belgic Confession, Heidelburg
Catechism, and Canons of Dort. We believe that we
come into a saving relationship with God only because of His gracious work in
our hearts, and therefore He deserves our praise in every area of life.
We are
a Church belonging to the one holy and universal apostolic church instituted by
the Lord Jesus Christ for the ministry of the Word, the ministry of the
sacraments, and the shepherding of God’s people by the pastors and elders. We
hold dear and profess the apostle’s creed, the Nicene creed,
and the Athanasian creed. We are a member
congregation of The United Reformed Churches of North America, a federation
established in 1995 that has more than 80 congregations.
(Quite
a few of the denominations visited this year include themselves in this “One
Universal and Apostolic Church – included but not limited to the Catholics –
The Serbian Orthodox, the Episcopalians, and now this Reformed Church. Most of
them also use the word “Catholic” in this description – here they evidently do
not. This surprised me on my very first visit – the
Episcopalians – who consider themselves Catholic. “Catholic” roughly
means “All in One.” I thought it interesting that here
– the one universal and apostolic church is all in lower case. I interpreted
this to mean that the one church is not a Church. It’s interesting that the
non-emphasis is an emphasis.)
Prelude
Music:
Big, bold, praising music – like some of our own most
powerful hymns – some familiar. It
was a Nine Foot Concert Grand Piano with its lid unapologetically wide open
with the “long” stick.
This
pianist, a woman, loved getting into those long bass strings – not jazzy – just
formal and big. I loved watching her play – how comfortable she was! And at home at the magnificent and entirely “acoustic” instrument.
No electronics were needed for this one.
Then
she moved to the other side and took her place at the organ. She played then
for the meeting – all the hymns, etc. She was good at the organ also – but it
was a job – not like she was at the piano, which I later learned was her love –
and what she teaches.
The
minister made some announcements – including asking everyone for their prayers
for a sister who had just this week had a stroke and was in the hospital.
“Clap
your hands all ye nations – Sing praises to your God.” He said this with
sufficient enthusiasm that I thought maybe this meeting was going to take off
in a more informal direction. That was not to be – there was never any
clapping. The entire meeting was in formality about the same as ours – except
for the more aggressive use of the only two instruments – the piano and the
organ. All music was still formal – but big. Once in a while, we do this – I
always like it when we do.
“Let us
pray.” And then it was silent. Everyone said their own prayers – and after a
minute or so, music started quietly and then gained force.
“Please
Stand for God’s blessing - ” Everyone stood.
The
minister gave a blessing to the congregation with his arms stretched upward.
(This
minister was the only speaker for the entire meeting – not one word from anyone
else.)
Song:
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” The minister also led the singing. In such
a big church – with so many people – this is surprising to me.
Singing
is big – they select all big praising hymns – and the organ is at forte. They
usually sing all the verses – and some sing parts. All hymns are from the
hymnal – no projected words. Singing was fun – I could sing as loudly as I
cared to – switch parts – whatever.
Minister
read the Ten Commandments – entire script from the Old Testament – Then he read
the Two Great Commandments from the New Testament. This was done in such a
formal way that I suspect it is done every Sunday just the same.
Song:
“Gracious God My Heart Renew”
Some
interesting words from this hymn:
“Not
the formal sacrifice has acceptance in Thine eyes.”
“Broken
hearts are in Thy sight, More than sacrificial rite.”
Prayer
by minister: (TEN minutes long.)
He
thanked for and asked blessings for “Sister congregations
of Reformed Churches,” and then for “All congregations of other parts of the
Church” that they would have a blessing with the Sabbath day message from God’s
word.
Then he
asked for blessings for four named members of their congregation – four who
were in
“Bring
us swift victory, and bring us safely home.”
In the
back of the hymnal, there are questions and answers. The minister reads the
question – and then the congregation reads the answer. Two questions each week.
Question
#99:
Minister:
What is God’s will for us in the third commandment?
Congregation:
That we neither blaspheme nor misuse the name of God
by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor share in such horrible sins by
being silent bystanders.
Questions
#100:
Minister:
Is blasphemy of God’s name by cursing and swearing really such a serious sin that
God is angry even with those who do not do all they can to forbid it?
Congregation:
Yes, indeed. No sin is greater. No sin makes God more angry.
That is why He commanded the death penalty for it.
(!!!)
(This puts so many of my good friends in the military in harm’s way – a death
penalty from God. How could they be viewed here as on God’s
errand?)
And the
minister talked quite a while on how horrible this particular sin was – adding
that words like “Golly – Gee – Jeez – are included as the same – and also Dang – Darn.”
“Whether you mean it or not!”
(I had
to wonder what this meant, since he had just said the words himself – not
meaning them.)
In
other words – this is something one must be “careful” about – the sin may be
committed in ignorance – whether you know it or not.
If you
are late to church – and miss “God’s Blessing,” is that blaspheming God? It is
not “my” blessing. It is “God’s” blessing. Do we show our disrespect by
negligently missing it?
(This
was the blessing he verbalized at the beginning – with his arms stretched
upward. These were “God’s” words, not his – like with our Patriarchal
Blessings.)
Or when
elements of our country misinterpret the separation of church and state – in
schools teaching our children about this world – God’s world – and leaving God
out of it – all as though God did not exist?
Ignoring
God is worse even than speaking badly. At least speaking badly still recognizes
His existence. There is no more complete way to blaspheme than to ignore God.
Those
that treat His name disrespectfully – will be ignored. They will be ignored by
His grace! (This spoken more loudly.) (!!!)
Then
after this long talk, he made one final statement that appeared to turn all
this strong talk around. (I’m not sure exactly what it meant – after the
“ignored by His grace” remark.
He
said:
Jesus
Christ himself was accused of this blasphemy. And for it, they insisted that He
be crucified – that very death penalty that is required by God for this sin. Yet
it is through this very Jesus Christ that even the sin of blasphemy – is
forgiven.
(End of
talk – period.)
The
meeting was over. A man and woman came up to me and asked if I had to go
anywhere right away. They invited me to come to their home for “Coffee.” I
asked if we needed to drive on the freeway (I limit myself to 60 in the
hotrod.) They said they could go another route – about six miles. I followed
them home – after considerable visiting around the hotrod outside with a medium
sized group of these “Reformed” Christian car enthusiasts.
It
turns out – reformed means “Dutch Reformed.” This
couple was Dutch – as were the two other couples who also joined us for coffee.
I had
never seen such a table “cloth.” It was like a carpet – as heavy as a heavy
dense plush carpet – with a fringe – on the table. It’s what everyone used to
use in
She had
prepared several Dutch pastries – and the visiting was fun and spirited. It
went on for some time – much talk of the war and their strong support for the
president and the wonderful job he is doing for God.
(Not
Allah – the other one.)
It went
on just long enough – that she then brought out place mats – and it was time
for lunch. I tried to excuse myself – not wanting to overstay my welcome – but
this had been planned, and I was to be included.
The man
led us in prayer – The Lord’s Prayer.
There
was no mention of the food – other than the line “Give us this day our daily
bread.”
She had
prepared a Dutch soup – this was very good. And there were little one-sided
sandwiches – half of her own homemade bread and half of a
thin dense bread that was exactly like pumpernickel – the dense, chewy
kind. She said it was a kind of rye. There was a spread of some kind and thin
layers of something like Swiss cheese. (Umm.)
Discussion
continued during lunch. One of the other couple included a young man who had
been a deputy sheriff for nine years. He was the most outspoken about the evil
of Saddam and his people – and the way they fight a war. The other couple were two seniors who had just sold their home –
bought a 40 foot camper – and were planning to live in it full time – moving
from place to place and seeing the country.
The
couple of this home were dairy people – Hollandia Dairy. For beverage during lunch – there were two
choices – milk and butter-milk. I had milk – and it was milk to die for –
sweeter than usual and very cold – just ready to crystallize.
When
lunch was over, then the man said, “We will have the blessing and giving of
thanks.” He then proceeded to give thanks for the food and to bless it to our
good health – after we had eaten. When I told Leona of this, she remarked, “Wow
– no waiting for everyone to come to the table – do it last – when everyone is
there.” I thought, “And we always get to eat the food hot.”
“Our
church started in
That
was something noticeable – the entire meeting had been handled and run by a single
man – so naturally, there would be change to each new personality as ministers change – or when one moves to a new congregation.
(We
have a unique formula. While we have been a part of this ward, there have been
three Bishops – Bill Snapp, Ron Jarvis, Kyle Denning
– not hard to recognize as completely different (all lovely) personalities –
yet – the change is at most cursory – we remain “at home.”)
I
arrived home (the house, that is) just as Leona also was arriving – 4 ½ hours
altogether.
(This
war is an awfully large part of the thoughts of people everywhere.)
48 of 52 –