Volume 3 Issue 16

• “If the good people, in their wisdom, shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined.” --Abraham Lincoln
• The election is over, the people have spoken, and I am left needing to explain not only the pre-election position that I took, but also of trying to figure out the basis of the moral and cultural values reportedly embraced simultaneously by the Political and Religious Right. My recent attitude toward my faith/spirituality has been confessional in nature, but I take some consolation in the knowledge that I am not alone. Some of you may have already familiarized yourselves with the recently released statement, “Confessing Christ in a World of Violence”, from which I will be working to justify my conviction that the Antichrist is alive and well in the Bush administration that has been returned to the White House for another four years. Those not yet familiar with this contemporary confession may find it at: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.election&item=confession_signers
• If you haven’t visited Growing in Christ recently, you will notice that there have been many constructive changes made by my daughter, Rachel. If you continue to receive this newsletter via e-mail it means that your address in our system is good. I am aware, however, that many of the addresses from the previous list are not valid and that those persons are no longer receiving the newsletter unless they go directly to the site. There is really no remedy for this other than your willingness to help by sharing GiC with those on your mailing list. Should you choose this approach, please be sure to remind the recipient that it is possible for her/him to use the link at the end of the newsletter to subscribe. (To be fair and balanced, I need to tell you that it is possible to unsubscribe on the same link although I can’t imagine why this would be of interest to anyone.)
• The opportunities to respond, reply, rebut and/or reproach have been greatly increased in the new format. You are invited to sign the guestbook, which provides one such opportunity. The web-log format also allows for your comments to be entered at the end of newsletters and sermons. Without the participatory dialogue of the members of this cyber-community of faith its mission becomes empty and meaningless. The capability for occasional “chats” is also now available, and will be most effective if a common time for “meeting” can be established. One of the challenges of the Internet technology is its global reach, and so finding a set time that is workable for the majority will take some doing. If you have thoughts or suggestions along these lines, please send them to me: RevMAH@aol.com
• Thank you for allowing me some of your time. I look forward to hearing from you. Until next time……Shalom!