Humor and Terror

Mary Lu and I just spent 3 hours in line waiting to vote on a sunny Nov 4th day with the temp in the 60s meeting new people and having several good conversations. One of the election people came past me with a "Hello my name is KEN" badge on his shirt, and I said "Hi Ken!" He stopped dead in his tracks with a startled and puzzled look trying to place me. He seemed a little freaked out! I relieved his anxiety by reaching out to shake his hand while saying, "We have never met. My name is Bob." He smiled, obviously relieved, shook my hand and went on his way. Some people around me were looking at me with a "Why did you do that?" look on their face. So, I smilingly said to them, "He was wearing his name on his shirt, so I thought he wanted to be greeted!" They were relieved that wasn't some kind of wacko or clairvoyant able to read their thoughts. Just then Ken passed by on the way back into the polls and cheerily said to me, "Hi Bob!!" We all laughed, somewhat entertained during our long wait in line to vote.

Just before I sat down to type up that story, I received this Missions Hotline email concerning new attacks in India:
David Yardy, Asia Area Director, called from India on Tuesday, November 4, to report that a Free Methodist pastor was recently beaten to death in front of his family because he would not renounce his faith. Also, five other Free Methodists were badly beaten and had to be taken to the hospital. The doctor's life was threatened if he treated their injuries, so they were refused treatment. These attacks took place in a state which neighbors Orissa State where Christians have been facing severe persecution. Please pray for the victims' families. Also pray for 300 refugees from Orissa who have fled to Hyderabad.

My prayer is for not only the extraordinary freedom we enjoy in this country, but also for the unimaginable terror others are experiencing this very day.

Lord, help us to more deeply appreciate and celebrate our freedom.
Lord, help us to select leaders who will govern for the common good of all people, of all nations.
Lord, help us to live righteous lives in these days filled with humor and terror.
Amen.

Dogmatism or Faith?

A while back, I discovered this quote while reading a 1996 article written by Brian McLaren in Perspective.  Perhaps it also works if 'Modernism" replaces "Dogmatism" and "Postmodernism" replaces "Faith".  Not literally, so just calm down!  : )   Either way, it inspires me to move into the future with hope and openness, rather than despair and harshness.  And that is a good thing.  Right?

  

Dogmatism and faith are not identical!

Dogmatism is like stone.  Faith is like soil.

Dogmatism refuses to admit doubt.  Faith often struggles with doubt.

Dogmatism is brittle, cracks under pressure.  Faith is resilient, malleable and teachable. 

Dogmatism is defensive, stereotyped, static.  Faith rests, but it is never smug, pat or complacent.

Dogmatism is a closed system.  Faith is open to reason.

Dogmatism is a tunnel.  Faith is a mountain peak.

Dogmatism fills one with pride.  Faith inspires awe and reverence.

Dogmatism insists on propositions.  Faith knows Christ.

Dogmatism generates bigotry.  Faith stimulates understanding.

Richard Halverson, Somewhere Inside of Eternity (Portland, OR.: Multnomah Press, 1918), p50