Volume 1 Issue 4

As I write the United Nations is trying to observe International Peace Day. In some ways this seems absurd, but surely no more so than many of the other machinations taking place in our own country and around the globe. Today’s message continues with the theme: “God Bless America!” It examines three of the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, but does not specifically address one which is so appropriate for today: “Congratulations to those who work for peace! They will be known as God’s children.” (Matthew 5:9 SV)

The Scholar’s Version cited above is found in “The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus” (1993, Polebridge Press). I know that I recommended this book before in the seminal “Easter and Beyond” effort, but I offer it again as an excellent resource for those of you who are not inclined toward literalism or fundamentalism, but who instead have a genuine curiosity about how we ended up with the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as they are found in today’s versions of the Holy Bible.

I am truly grateful to those who were “brave” enough to use the newly added “Share Your Response/Reaction” link at the end of last week’s message:

Kirby Schmitz of Billings, Montana provided a number of instances in United States history where the determination of the government was to “strike first,” among them being actions taken against the native Americans, the Spanish-American War (“the USS Maine was never determined to have been sunk by the Spanish; most historians think it was a boiler explosion that put it on the bottom of Havana’s harbor”), and the recent controversial discovery of the sunken Japanese submarine still in international waters.

Still, when I here the media use words such as “unprecedented,” I have to wonder if there is not something unique about the “Bush Doctrine” that is emerging before our very eyes.

Sally Sardakowski of Arvada, Colorado has kept me supplied with many wonderful anecdotes and illustrations, but space here will only permit me to include her most recent one:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that was going on inside him.
He said, “My son, it is between two wolves. One is evil: anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good: joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one I feed.”

Finally, my dear friend with whom I work, Marta Noguez-Rivera, sent me a website address with a message that so coincides with mine for this week that I share it with you: http://tribute.creoletechnologies.com/TributesDirectory/AsTheWorldTurns.htm

I continue to be indebted to Matt Piper and WebICX for his “pro bono” service as Growing in Christ webmaster. In spite of being in school and holding down a job, Matt keeps making little tweaks here and there to improve our site. I know that he and I both hope that it won’t be long before all the gems you send my way can be posted to the “bulletin board.” Until then, I’ll take advantage of the newsletter venue as I have today to try to send along some of the best.

Our youngest daughter, Rebecca, has been patiently trying to expose me to the music of her generation. It’s true! I have become my parents and generally can hear it only as so much noise. Nonetheless, I close with these powerful lyrics from the song “Science” written and performed by System of a Down (no, I don’t understand the name eitherJ):

Science fails to recognize the single most
Potent element of human existence
Letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith.

Until next week…..Shalom!