Polictically Correct in Church

We are still on our church journey, visiting a different church each week. It is enlightening and in many cases I like to feel that if a person is seeking God, that they can find Him anywhere. If the Word is being read, although things may be interpreted differently, the person is hearing the Word and will hopefully come to their own conclusions. I am forever an optimist.

This Sunday was interesting from the start. The program had a song printed in the bulletin which we were to sing. I recognized the song and remarked to my husband that we sang this song at my 8th grade public school graduation. That alone shows how times have changed. Let me digress for a moment. At our graduation we sang "He" which exalts God's power and greatness and "Let There Be Peace on Earth", another song which proclaims "God as our father, brothers all are we." I don't remember if we sang these in lieu of an opening prayer or closing benediction but I do know there is no way that would be allowed at a graduation ceremony now. Another sideline, the other song we sang was a parody of a popular song out at the time with words written by yours truly--one of my first claims to writing fame. (lol)

As we looked at the bulletin, the doxology was also written out. My husband thought there was a typo, then another, and then I noticed that the words to "Let There Be Peace on Earth" were changed also, "With God as our parent, children all are we." It didn't take long for us to realize that this church did not want to rule out the possibility that God is a woman nor to offend women by using the masculine term, brothers. To which I say, "Oh, brother."

This made me question if this church believed that the Bible is the true Word of God since Jesus on numerous occasions refers to God as his Father--not Mother nor parent. I think the Bible has made it clear. I was surprised that they still prayed, "Our Father". That being said, I wonder in the scheme of things if God will care that some people thought he was a woman.

Those things were of slight controversy for us to start. Then we got to the sermon. The Reverend talked about the Muslims wanting to put a Mosque near ground zero. He referred to the people opposing this as extremists. He said you wouldn't see people putting up such opposition if they tried to put a Christian Church where the Oklahoma City bombings took place. He went on to speak of a God of love and that we are to be "pleasant plantings".

Well, where to do I begin? I agree with my husband that it almost seems like a slap in the face to build a Mosque by ground zero. First of all, why haven't we rebuilt the towers or whatever the plan is to show that we will stand strong? Can you imagine a Mosque being built near there before we have re-built? I can't imagine how people who lost loved ones there must feel. Secondly, the Muslims must know that there will be "extremists" and I just can't imagine it being a safe place for them, I hate to say. It's certainly a bad idea all around. This is America, a melting pot, and yes, by our religious freedoms they should be allowed to build a Mosque somewhere in NY but there needs to be some respect for the lives lost due to people of the Islamic faith who may have taken it to extreme, but none the less claimed to do so because of their faith. We, who are not Islamic, don't know how many believe as the terrorists do--the ones who don't believe the same have not been very out spoken--perhaps out of fear. I don't know.

Although I do not believe in the Islamic faith and some will call me naive and some will agree with me, but I don't like to think that all Muslims are evil. I know it has been quoted in the Koran that those who kill and are killed for Allah will inherit paradise (Allah reference 9:111--I never realized the reference number before--chilling). I have heard this is interpreted in different ways by different individuals just as our Bible is. I personally think the difference is, that we have seen too many instances of the Islamic extremists over the years. We don't often hear of Christian extremists killing hundreds of people. I know, there were some in years past, but I'm talking of my lifetime.

Recently a medical team in Afghanistan were there to help people but were murdered for fear that they might be converting people to Christianity. So, for Christianity sake, they would be martyrs and for Islamic sake, the murderers would be the ones rewarded for getting rid of what they perceive as evil. The Christians believe the Islamic terrorists will go to hell (except for those who now don't believe in hell because God is all love--everyone goes to heaven, so what difference does it make?) and the Islamic people will believe the Christians will go to hell because of what they believe and were trying to brainwash the people. Can you imagine God looking down on all this? What a mess.

It is admirable that people stand up for their beliefs but not to the point of murder. There seems to be no hope for a world of brotherly love any more--especially when some people find it offensive to use the term brotherly. In our small corner of the world in a wonderful country where we can blog about our beliefs safely, all we can do in our own way is to try and live as the song says..."let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me".

View from a Train

 

These are pictures taken from the Berkshire Limited train ride from Canaan, CT to Great Barrington, MA. (If you click on the picture, you can see them larger, just use the back arrow to return.) We started this sunny day with breakfast at the "famous" Collins Diner in Canaan (omelets and home fries for both of us, yum!) Then we had a scenic train ride which is only being offered this weekend and next Sunday. It is worth the trip. It is 40 minutes one way. You have the option of getting out in Great Barrington and taking a later train back, if you please.

The ride goes through wooded area, farm land, swamps, brooks, mountains in the distance, residential areas, a junk yard and back of buildings (which my husband, for some reason finds fascinating), and more woods. Since this train doesn't usually run, people along the way were taking pictures as we rode by. A heard of cows were shocked and began to run away as we rode by. There was a crane in a swamp, and someone saw a deer in the woods.

The train was not as hot as I thought it was going to be. They had as many windows open as they could, though when they said to keep all arms, feet, fingers, heads inside, they meant it. We seemed to be inches from some trees and especially some other railroad cars. We were jostled back and forth as we moved along. I think this is the fastest scenic train ride that I have been on--I think it got up to 25 mph. but don't quote me. It was $15 for adults with the proceeds going towards rebuilding Canaan Union Station. Children are $5. and it is worth a leisurely ride if you can make it next Sunday, 10 am 1 pm and 4 pm.

It is quite interesting to me, the number of people you pass by while riding the train that wave to you. What is it that makes people wave to strangers on trains and boats? Don't get me wrong, it's nice, but I wonder why. It's just like a natural reaction. We never do it when people drive by in a car. We saw people stopped waiting to take pictures. We saw two women who had parked their car along the side of the nearby road and stood in a field just to wave at the train and then to laugh and run like children back to their car. Promote peace, take the train--thus, the peace train?

Hope

 

A rainbow on the way home today--just when I needed a sign of hope.

Sunset to Sunrise: Beautiful Cape Cod

 
 
 

Learning Lessons

A true story.

We've known Larry and Lucy (names changed to protect the guilty) for many years. Our relationship is similar to a neighbor. We know a lot about them and vice verse. We have also done them quite a few favors, but we're not keeping a scorecard.

Well, Larry and Lucy had a tag sale and my husband went to it. He ended up purchasing a good size nativity scene. It was in a box and each piece was wrapped in paper or plastic. He looked at a few pieces and decided to buy it. Had he thought about the favors that we have done for this couple, he may have thought about talking down the $10 price tag, but he didn't.

When he got it home, we first discovered that Joseph had a piece broken off of his foot. Well, we can live with that. We examined the other pieces and all were very nice but I realized that the baby Jesus was missing. What good is a nativity scene without a baby Jesus?

I saw Larry the next day and asked if he could ask Lucy to look for the baby Jesus. He said he would. Well, the day after that, I saw Larry and he said it would be next to impossible to find it. So, then I asked him if we could have our money back. A nativity scene without Jesus is pointless. He said "As is". He said George had talked Lucy down from $15. (first lie--I still had the $10 sticker) and that George had looked at it for quite a while (second lie).

Now as I said, we have known Lucy and Larry for years. We should have known this would have been the outcome--I knew them too well and how they treated others. I just somehow thought that perhaps their standards would be different with acquaintances that they knew so well and would still be seeing often. They bragged that they had made over $3,000. on their tag sale. So, $10 is going to kill them? And it's not the money. $10 is not going to kill me. I don't even need a nativity scene. I have one. It's the principal. I could tell you about the many favors we have done for them. I thought we would have been treated with a little more respect. If I had sold it to a stranger, I would have given them their money back, but that's me.

This past summer we went to a tag sale a few streets over and bought a used VCR that we discovered didn't work when we got it home. We took it back and this stranger gave us our money back.

I know people can say, "buyer beware" or that we should have inspected it more. Yes, if it were a stranger, but from someone you've known more then ten years? Know we know, we are not exempt from their shady dealings. We were too trusting. Never again. I heard of another "friend" of theirs who got shafted by this tag sale. It's like money overtook their souls and believe me, they are not hurting for money.

Now there will be times in the future when Larry and Lucy are going to need a favor. In fact Larry already asked me to do something for him next week. So many vengeful thoughts have filled my head all day. I could easily get revenge and it could be sweet, if it weren't that I have a conscious. It's not fair that they don't. Can I be a bigger, better person? Well, if I had had to return that favor today, I don't think I would have been a better person. I need a little time to pass.

Funny the whole thing centers around Jesus. They obviously don't have him in their lives and when I asked them to look for him, they couldn't find him. I proclaim to have Jesus in my life, but symbolically He is missing in this whole situation. I know what Jesus would do, forgive and forget, but I do believe we should learn from this situation too. We cannot let people continue to walk all over ourselves and others. I know it is not our place to get revenge, but perhaps it is our place to remind them that when the store attendant gives you the wrong change in your favor, first it is wrong to take it and secondly, it is wrong to brag about it.

I know we shouldn't judge others either, but I think we should be helping to teach them right from wrong. There are too many Larrys and Lucys in the world (though thankfully I don't know many personally and believe me if I didn't have to, I wouldn't be in their company). I don't think it means to watch them take advantage of people over and over. Larrys and Lucys want more and more and are feeling entitled to more and more--sue crazy and looking for handouts. You know the old cartoon with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other? We need more angels on the shoulders of consciously challenged individuals. Be an angel, maybe we can change the world one at a time.

Church Journey Week 15 Easter Sunrise continued

 
 

Here are a couple of pictures just to show you the terrain. We estimated that about 70 people came out on this beautiful morning.

Church Journey Week 15 Happy Easter!

 
 
 
 

Okay, some of you may be saying what happened to week 14, 13, 12, etc. Well, due to technical difficulties we have a snag back from weeks ago. It finally dawned on me that it doesn't really matter to anyone else what week we went where, so we are going to catch up by doing these out of order.

We knew that going to a new church on Easter Sunday would not be a true picture of what it is usually like, so we decided to do what we have done for several years--attend a sunrise service. We are fortunate that there are a few close to us. Last year we went to the Colebrook Dam, which is beautiful. This year we went back to the Beach Rock lookout over the Barkhamsted Reservoir. It's a great place to see a sunrise, but involves a little effort of a short hike. Care has to be taken not to get too close to the edge.

This service is a combined effort of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church and the Barkhamsted Congregational Church. The opening hymn was the appropriate "Morning Has Broken". The sermon was given by Rev. Margret Hofmeister from the North Congregational Church of New Hartford. She spoke of the glorious morning when the tomb was found empty from Luke 24. The pastor from Pleasant Valley Methodist Church (we believe) helped with the service.

In the past we have been to this service in winter coats and a blanket to try and keep warm. This year I had short sleeves and a sweater. It was a beautiful morning to see the sunrise. There were a few wispy clouds on the horizon.

I am happy to say that we also sang, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today". I have been disappointed on other Easters when it was not included. To me it is the theme song of Easter.

After the service there was a nice breakfast at the Barkhamsted Congregational Church (they alternate with the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church.) It was great to be amongst family and friends early on Easter morning.

I don't know how to put more than four pictures on a blog, so look for more pictures on the next entry.