Saturday, March 19, 2016

Christianity & Partisan Politics


Christianity today is too often complicated by partisan politics. Partisan Christianity tends to fall into two general groups.  On one hand there are those who see service to God as a daily struggle to live, advocate and enforce when possible a strict adherence to archaic Hebrew legalism.  On the other, there are those who believe the gospels were intended to spread the good news that Jesus loves each and every one of us, even when our best efforts fall short, and that Christ is best served by humbly offering his nail scarred hand to anyone who’ll have it.  SC

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Celebrate achievements and boldly strive ahead


For many of us who remember the 1950s and ‘60s, our memories of those times are reflected in and rekindled by the music of that period.  Much of that music had a common theme.  People sang of a new day coming.  Lyrics told of a future in which all people would be united in a peaceful recognition and acceptance of the fact that we are each different and unique. Popular songs encouraged love and tolerance and conjured up pictures of a time when peaceful coexistence would be the order of the day and all mankind would join in the common cause of freedom and justice for all; a time when mankind could be relied upon to assist those who needed assistance and value the best efforts of each and every individual who did their best, even when their very best fell short. Over the decades since the ‘50s and ‘60s, many have dedicated themselves to achieving the romanticized goals of our youth, the goals of liberty and justice, as contained in America’s historical documents, and the pursuit of goodness, grace and mercy in the eyes of God. Despite the polarization which plagues our nation today, much has been achieved. We stand today at a crossroads, on the firm foundation those dedicated efforts produced. We live now in that new day foretold in our youth by dreamers, songwriters and poets. Some would take us back to a dark, divided past, where ignorance and mistrust were the order of the day, and intolerance and bigotry were celebrated. For the rest of us, we see about us the realization of the dreams and ideals of our youth, the remarkable advances made by a nation inspired by dreamers, united by song, and faithfully dedicated to liberty and justice for all. For us, despite the many challenges we face, we celebrate achievements and boldly strive ahead.  SC