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Symbolism & Violence: One More Step

March 12, 2010

Posted by Wallace+

Wednesday evening the Governor announced his executive directive prohibiting descrimination in the Commonwealth based on sexual orientation. (Please read the RTD editorial from yesterday, "The Woodshed," if you haven't already.)

Then on Thursday an Imam offered an Islamic prayer in the House of Delegates, which I was fortunate enough to be present for, along with our guest preacher this week, the Reverend Dr. Jim Forbes.

A great 24 hours for symbolism. And I don't say that cynically. (I try never to say anything cynically, for that matter.)

Yes, there is still so much work to be done, in the name of inclusion, be it in regard to religious affiliation or sexual orientation; that said, moments such as these are of great importance, as they signal an emerging commitment to a fuller inclusion, yes, and indeed to justice. And, as such, they take us one more step away from dehumanizing "the other" in our midst, and, therefore, one more step away from bigoted violence, as we work for that just and compassionate community to which God calls us all.

Jesus is pleased, no doubt.

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SERMONS

To Bethlehem; to Bethlehem, we have come.

And, of course, this Christmas, tonight, and tomorrow, new memories are being made; a Carol sung, pure and exquisite; an old friend; warm, endearing words exchanged; a first Christmas for a new grandbaby; a candle lit, a face aglow, eyes agleam.

The Pointer’s Point

More than fifty times, in his published writings, Barth refers to the Grunewald image; and, indeed, usually, it is precisely in reference to John,  and John’s relation to the figure of Christ; as he points.
Barth (and Grunewald before him) understood John’s sole purpose to be to serve as a pointer to Christ, a reference to Christ, a witness to Christ.

Keep Alert, Awake, and Watchful

On any given day, there are those things that would get our attention; those things that would bring fresh perspective; those things would remind us of what is most important, what is most true. If, that is, if we but notice. We never know when those things, those experiences, those people might come. And so it has always been, so it has always been.

The Rule of 72

The Rule of 72, they call it.  It’s a rule of thumb to figure how long it’ll take to double your money. If you know you can get 5%, on your investment, then you divide 5 into 72 and that tells you: it’ll take roughly 14 and ½ years to double your money. That’s the Rule of 72. Now, sometimes an investor doesn’t want to wait 14 and a ½ years, or however long the Rule of 72 tells you that you have to wait and so increased risks are taken. And sometimes you win, and sometimes you loose.

Walk the Way of a Servant

We all want, in the words of St. Paul, to “lead a life worthy of God.” A life worthy of God. Un-like the lives of the false prophets, of Micah’s day, or the false teachers of Jesus’ day, the scribes and the Pharisees, teachers of the law. Their lives are un-worthy of God, we are told, in no uncertain terms. In their hypocrisy, they serve, not God, not God’s people, but themselves.

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