Saturday, June 16, 2007

Doing Sacred Work


I'll be away for the next week in the Adirondacks. I'm leading a youth mission trip and working in the Chestertown area of the park, helping folks rehab their homes a bit and doing what we can in general to help the communities. We'll all be looking for small and big ways to spread acts of random kindness and be Christians disciples in the places we travel and serve.

See you in a week!

Friday, June 15, 2007

So many Candidates, So little Time


It really is time to start paying attention to presidential candidates and their campaigns if you haven't already. Though many will wait until after the primaries to even start looking at a candidate, now is a better time to start reading, watching and listening. The buzz recently has been candidates' marriages. Rudy Giuliani loses in that category. But is a successful marriage a sign of a successful president? Maybe not, but ethics are. So start watching now to see what each candidate's campaign is saying and see if it runs true throughout the campaign. See if the campaigns are positive and encouraging or negative and attacking. Do we really need another president who allows attack ads or tries to get votes using fear? I don't care who you like or dislike in the field of candidates. But I do care that you vote...hopefully making an informed vote. I know you don't feel like you have the time to track all of the candidates...no one does with so many already in or considering a run. But make it easy on yourself and subscribe to some candidates websites or check out some reputable news organizations that are tracking each candidate. And start watching the debates!
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/
http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha
http://www.declareyourself.com/?gclid=CLDhzdTV34wCFSXlgAodY2-s2w

Just for fun, try the website below to see which candidate matches with the issues most important to you!
http://www.selectsmart.com/president/2008.html

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Sacred Voices in Life and Death

I join the thousands of people today who are praying for the Graham family. In life and now facing death both Ruth and Billy Graham have been an inspiration and example of integrity, discipleship and grace. Even in the midst of illness, Billy Graham is able to see the sacredness of life and death as he understands that going home to God is a joyful moment.
See his comments at http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2007/06/14/689523.html&cvqh=itn_billygraham

In her own right Ruth is an accomplished author whose wisdom, humor and faith have long nurtured her family and her husband's ministry. Please continue to pray for Ruth and the Graham family.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. I've been doing more writing for the UM Publishing house of late. Read my review below of Evan Almighty which comes out nationwide on June 22nd. I was at a screening last week and am anxious to see it again with my family!

Evan Almighty is Mighty Funny


The new movie, Evan Almighty, is completely refreshing for what it lacks – profanity, violence and sexual content. Aside from being funny, it brings to life an image of a God (played by Morgan Freeman) who is loving, purposeful, and playful.
Steve Carrel plays Evan Baxter, a TV anchor turned Congressman who won the seat with his campaign slogan to change the world. So the freshman congressman from Buffalo moves his wife and three sons to a huge new home in a prestigious new development in Virginia, just outside Washington DC. With a little encouragement from his wife Joan (played by Lauren Graham) Evan asks for God’s help in fulfilling his campaign promise as he begins his new job. What Evan does not know is that the new home, the new hummer, the big new office are all part of Congressman Long’s (played by John Goodman) plan to get Evan on board to help pass a new bill that would allow residential development on National Park lands.
Before Evan even has a chance to get settled at home or work, a box of strange tools and a load of gopher wood appear at his door. “Gen 6 14” seems to pop up everywhere Evan looks and soon God also makes an appearance to let Evan in on his plan to build an ark. When Evan protests, “This isn’t part of my plan here!” God just laughs and animals of all kinds begin following Evan two by two.
Confused by his reckless purchase property, the construction of a strange boat and the change in his appearance Evan’s wife finally has enough of his ‘mid-life crisis,’ packs up the boys and leaves. Realizing there is little else he can do, Evan throws himself into building the ark while also learning from God that the small acts of random kindness are just as important as the big ones in changing the world.
This enjoyable family film helps us remember how important the practice of kindness is – even kindness towards those who appear to lack ethics. In the Bible, while talking about loving one’s enemies, Jesus relates the golden rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). But this movie is not just about kindness. It is also about relying on God’s plan to change the world in big and dramatic ways through God’s people.
Go see this film with your family, friends, or youth group. And don’t miss the great lines delivered by Wanda Sykes who plays Rita, and all the animal antics that provide one laugh after another.
Once you’ve seen the film be sure to check out http://www.arkalmighty.com/ to find out about a great way you and your church can get involved in a “Craig’s list” type of kindness program. Organize your own program or find out how to start by using the resources provided through the website.