Volume 2 Issue 33

“I think one reason why people are so scared of taking that chance [of making conscious the divine connection] is that our culture spoon-feeds everything to us. If you want a television, you go out and work for it and you buy it. If you want to learn about Aztec pottery, you take a course. But the relationship with God requires the active and passionate participation of you, yourself. You have to risk it. You have to abandon yourself to it. You have to leap into the fire. Nobody will do it for you; nobody can do it for you. In a deep sense, we’ve all been made slaves of convenience by a culture that stresses ease and quick solutions. This has divorced us even more completely from our authentic self and from the rigors and risks of a real relationship with God.” -- Andrew Harvey
*******
Thank you for inviting me into your home or place of work for the next few minutes. I know that I am not alone in believing that these are momentous times in which we live, and the mission of this ministry is to provide a meaningful theological ground from which to respond to everything that is happening to and around us. A comprehensive theology should apply to how we relate to the person next door as well as to finding our place in the Cosmos. As you become aware of how theology influences your day-to-day thoughts and decisions, I hope that you will feel free to share your experiences with others via the Bulletin Board. Because it is GiC’s position that: POLITICS + MORALS + SCIENCE + RELIGION + EDUCATION = THEOLOGY (I still haven’t received any “additions” to the equation from you readers), there is very little subject matter that would be considered not appropriate for posting.
*******
While on the subject of the Bulletin Board, I think that you’ll find Jim Wallis’ “Putting God Back in Politics” interesting reading. The obituary for Bishop R. Marvin Stuart will primarily be of interest to United Methodists, but there are enough of those in this virtual GiC congregation that I’ve included it. I remember Bishop Stuart as one of the few who remembered my name without looking at my nametag first, and that always meant a lot to me. Finally, Roger Clawson’s wry Western wit should provide you with a chuckle (or a fearful cringe) with his “Cheney on the Hunt”.
*******
Please remember that hard copies of the current newsletter and sermon are mailed each week to those without access to the Internet. If you know of someone who would like to receive this mailing, simply send their name and address to me and it will be included in the list. I’ve had a great deal of empathy with the NASA scientists who lost communication with MER “Spirit” and anxiously awaited a response. Even if it’s only “message received”, I’d love to “hear” back from you!
*******
Until next week…….Shalom!
P.S. I just received the following alert from Common Cause: 60 Minutes will run a piece this Sunday [01/25/04] evening (7pm EST – check local listings) about Halliburton’s business deals in Iran, cleverly circumventing the Iran-Libya sanctions Act, which Vice President Dick Cheney lobbied to repeal while he was Halliburton's CEO. The company also did business with Libya. More details are available from: www.commoncause.org

Volume 2 Issue 32

“I refuse to accept the idea that the “isness” of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the “oughtness” that forever confronts him. –Martin Luther King, Jr. (from his speech when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on December 11, 1964)
*******
For years, theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether has impressed me with her outstanding scholarship and theological integrity. And so it is with no little concern that I read her article in the current issue of “Witness” magazine, “Was the Bush Administration Complicit in 9/11?” I have posted it to the Bulletin Board so that you may read it for yourself. I wish there was more comfort in remembering that several of the sources she cites were already posted on GiC months ago.
*******
In this same vein, I’ve decided that if he’s good enough for Madonna, then he’s good enough for me. No doubt General Wesley Clark’s campaign will be equally thrilled to learn that I, too, am supporting his candidacy for President. If it seems inappropriate that a political endorsement should appear on this site, I repeat the equation from last week’s newsletter: POLITICS + MORALS + SCIENCE + RELIGION + EDUCATION = THEOLOGY. From the time that the United States Supreme Court gave the 2000 election to George W. Bush (the first time in the history of our nation that such a thing has happened) I have been gravely concerned that our democratic process may have been permanently usurped. If there is a person capable of restoring the control of this government to “we the people”, I am now convinced that it is General Clark.
*******
On a brighter note, today is daughter Rachel’s twentieth birthday! We are blessed with the whole family being together for this special weekend, and I’m sure she will welcome your good wishes sent to: jackrach84@aol.com
*******
I satisfied my own etymological curiosity by looking up the origin of the word ‘holy’ which is the root for ‘holiday’. Let it here suffice to say that it would be time well-spent to pause amid our other holiday activities to honor a great American by remembering the profound effect of his life, teachings and example. We have come such a long way, but have such a long way yet to go.
*******
Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 31

“If Ronald Reagan was the Great Communicator, [President George W.] Bush is proving to be the Great Polarizer.” --John F. Dickerson and Karen Tumulty, “The Love Him, Hate Him President”, TIME, December 1, 2003)
*******
I’m both pleased and excited to announce that the article from which the opening quote is taken has provided me with a homiletic direction for the new year. I personally think that the reporters are giving Mr. Bush more credit than he is due because the very presidential election that put him in office was a clear expression of how this country was already split politically right down the middle. What the Bush administration has succeeded in doing over the past four years is to daily find ways of making the divisions more pronounced.
*******
In the series of sermons from January 26, 2003 through March 2, 2003, followed by the series from March 9, 2003 through April 13, 2003 (scroll down to the bottom of the “Sermons” page to find the archive) I explored the polarity between good and evil and attempted to explain how the homeostasis of the Whole necessarily requires a dynamic and constructive harmony between the two. But as Election 2004 is going to make incredibly clear, the good/evil polarity is but one of many, and political, moral, cultural, and religious differences in this country may well be brought to a flash point.
*******
I don’t anticipate anything like the Civil War erupting because today’s homogenous society isn’t split geographically as was the America of the mid-1800s. Contemporary Americana is far more susceptible to a Cultural War – or a War of Values – because the differences are dangerously compacted into ever more densely populated urban centers that have the potential for literally pitting neighbor against neighbor. The divisions of such polarization are far more widespread by virtue of improved communications technology, etc. and as such will have the capacity of swallowing up the national and global communities.
*******
It is the position of GiC that theology is the ultimate subject; i.e. the study of the ultimate. From such a perspective, POLITICS + MORALS + SCIENCE + RELIGION + EDUCATION = THEOLOGY (feel free to make your own addition to the equation). Each element contains within it a polarity; e.g. conservative/liberal; literal/figurative, etc. And within the inclusive whole of theology no single element stands alone void of the ability to influence and impact the others. One aspect of this paradigm that I particularly like and will be exploring further is the distinction it makes between Religion and Theology; it does not treat them as synonymous.
*******
While on vacation I became reacquainted with dial-up connection to the Internet and its slower speed. Not knowing what forms of connection are being used by GiC readers, I am going to try to be more judicious in my use of links, etc. that may prove to be more time-consuming than I had realized. I’m now wondering if this issue is affecting the willingness of people like yourself to post to the Bulletin Board or to reply to what has already been posted. Any comments you have concerning ways to make your time spent at this website more meaningful and satisfying are always welcome.
*******
That I haven’t communicated with him for ages is testimony to the excellent job that Matt Piper did building this website for me. Your suggestions for improvements to GiC will give me a reason to get back in touch with him and see how he’s doing, so send them in! As always, I am honored that you have chosen to spend some time with this ministry. With your feedback and input, my continuing hope is to proclaim the Good News of God’s love to an ever-larger number of persons who choose to be Growing in Christ!
*******
Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 30

Thank you for choosing to enter into 2004 with Growing in Christ. In the coming year the mission of this ministry will be to continue to provide you with virtual sanctuary to prayerfully contemplate your theology—your relationship with God. This is done with the conviction that as humankind grows in its realization that each and every one has been given the gift of life and is empowered by the One Source of us all we will also grow in our ability to live with one another in a world of genuine peace and harmony.
*******
At the time of release there have been 2,606 visits to this website. Thank you for sharing the word with friends and relatives. Printed copies of each week’s newsletter and sermon continue to be mailed to those who do not have access to the Internet. Your feedback and input are greatly appreciated, and serve to direct this ministry toward the most meaningful and helpful topics and subject matter. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Mom to the Internet, and would urge you to send your own congratulatory greetings to her: laurahanna@webtv.net
*******
Three new postings to the Bulletin Board will hopefully set the tone for the coming year: 1. An excerpt from Gregg Easterbrook’s new book, “The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse”, is one of the most powerful things I’ve read in quite awhile; 2. the threat of the Religious Right to our country’s democratic process is great enough to have caused no less than Walter Cronkite to break his longstanding silence; 3. and if you think Cronkite is exaggerating, just wait until you read the article by Associated Press reporter Sonja Barisic.
*******
As Growing in Christ progresses into this election year, the effort to fend off the theological illiteracy that makes our society so susceptible to religious corruption and manipulation will continue. You are invited to become actively involved in the development of a practical theology that meaningfully addresses the very real issues that affect our everyday lives. To fail to do so will only give the advantage to those who are quick to capitalize upon our apathy and our ignorance. GiC serves as the forum for the kind of enlightened thought that only concerned individuals like you can provide.
*******
Until next week…….Shalom!