Rev. Dave's Raves

I am reading and hearing a lot about how bad off we are these days. Here's a good article, that taps into this pessimism, but ends up with an optimistic view of what's ahead throughout the world. I encourage you to read it: by Fareed Zakaria, in Newsweek, May 12, 2008

It's true China is booming, Russia is growing more assertive, terrorism is a threat. But if America is losing the ability to dictate to this new world, it has not lost the ability to lead.

Americans are glum at the moment. No, I mean really glum. In April, a new poll revealed that 81 percent of the American people believe that the country is on the "wrong track." In the 25 years that pollsters have asked this question, last month's response was by far the most negative. Other polls, asking similar questions, found levels of gloom that were even more alarming, often at 30- and 40-year highs. There are reasons to be pessimistic—a financial panic and looming recession, a seemingly endless war in Iraq, and the ongoing threat of terrorism. But the facts on the ground—unemployment numbers, foreclosure rates, deaths from terror attacks—are simply not dire enough to explain the present atmosphere of malaise. American anxiety springs from something much deeper, a sense that large and disruptive forces are coursing through the world.

Read the article: Newsweek

Earth's crammed with heaven,

and every common bush afire with God:

but only he who sees takes off his shoes.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning (quoted in Dallas Willard, Listening to God

Winston Churchill told a joke of a subway train, which was stopped at a subway station. A man stepped onto one of the subway cars. The conductor shouted to the man, "I'm sorry sir, you cannot get on this train, the train doesn’t stop at this station." "Very well ," replied the man, "If it doesn’t stop here, I’m not on it."

With a similar logic, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) has ruled in the case "Presbytery of the Redwoods v. The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr," involving the performance of same sex wedding ceremonies. In a reversal of a lower church court ruling, the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr has been found not guilty of violating the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s constitution by performing same-sex ‘marriages’ for two lesbian couples.

How did they make this determination when Rev. Spahr publicly and unapologetically reported that she did perform the ceremonies of same-sex couples and called them 'weddings?' Rev. Spahr was in attendance when the case was heard, Friday, with family, friends and three of the same-sex couples whose “wedding” ceremonies she repeatedly insists that she performed. According to the GAPJC ruling, the definition of marriage as found in W-4.9001 of the Book of Order, states that "marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man" ... and that "For Christians marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship." The GAPJC ruled that "By the definition in W-4.9001, a same sex ceremony can never be a marriage. The GAPJC determined that Spahr could not be found “guilty of doing that which by definition cannot be done."

Those are the facts. Here's what I think. I have met Rev. Spahr; we are members of the Presbytery of the Redwoods. She is a nice person and intends to help people. I trust her motives. She followed her conscience, which led her to officiate the wedding ceremonies of gay and lesbian couples. Whatever you think about whether that's a good thing to do or not - it is clearly against the guidelines our church has for pastors. I don't want to see the book thrown at Rev. Spahr. Personally, I would rather not deal with it and trust that God will sort all these things out. But, there are people in our church (denomination) who are responsible to see that all of our rules are followed. The GAPJC is the body most responsible for that. And they let us down.

With astounding intellectual sophistry the ruling body managed to insult and incense people on all sides of the issue. Spahr said, in a radio interview, she is disappointed because gays and lesbians are still treated like second-class citizens by not being given the right to marriage. She was glad to be found not guilty, but disappointed with the reasons given. Those who wish for a church that holds a high moral bar for its leaders are disappointed. Here is another weak-kneed attempt to avoid speaking the truth in love. Intending to be more “inclusive,” we are driving out more of the faithful. There are still more losers: Those who just wish for peace in the church are disappointed, as the door remains wide open for those who flagrantly disregard the church's rules and no one dares to stop them.

The GAPJC, while failing to uphold the Synod of the Pacific’s earlier rebuke of Rev. Spahr, nevertheless instructed Rev. Spahr not to do it again. Amazing!

Not to worry. Spahr will not do “that which by definition cannot be done."

News article in the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat: http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080429/NEWS/355963598/1033/NEWS&template=kart

Marin IJ http://www.marinij.com/sanrafael/ci_9097894

PCUSA News: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08335.htm

Labels: presbyterians

Finally, something worth watching on TV. The documentary, "the Power of Forgiveness," which showed recently on PBS, was great. The show looked at various projects in which the results of recent "forgiveness research" have been used to bring peace between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, Palestinians and Israelis in Israel and even the World Trade Center memorial. The documentary showed how the Amish community gave them necessary support in forgiving the family of the man who gunned down their children in the school
Among the experts interviewed was Everett Worthington – one of those forgiveness researchers. The show included clips of Worthington teaching his university class on the physical and psychological benefits of forgiveness. Then they told the story that put Worthington to the ultimate test. Here is the story, from an article I read, years ago.
Everett Worthington a phone call from his brother, Mike, on New Year's morning, 1996.
"Mama's been murdered. There was blood on the carpet, on the walls, blood everywhere…"
Dr. Worthington arrived in Knoxville, he found that his aged mother had been beaten to death with a crowbar and a baseball bat. She was raped with a wine bottle, and her house was trashed.
What Dr. Worthington wanted to do was pick up the baseball bat, find the men who killed his mother and hammer them to death.
Why would Worthington ever want to forgive? It should be noted that forgiveness did not come to Dr. Worthington immediately, but it did come –deliberately, by choice, over time. This became his answer:
(1) The Bible tells us that our receiving Divine forgiveness is contingent on our granting interpersonal decisional forgiveness (see Matt 6: 12, 14-5; see Peter asking Jesus how many times we must forgive; see the unforgiving servant).
(2) People want to forgive emotionally because it blesses the person who harmed them.
(3) There are some benefits that come along with the altruistic forgiveness I mentioned in (2). Forgiving sets them free. Research shows a reduction of health risks for habitual forgivers relative to those who hold grudges. Research also shows that people who hold grudges have more mental health problems. Spiritual benefits accrue to forgivers.
 
The documentary began by showing how the principle of forgiveness was being used to bring peace in some of the word's toughest and longest conflicts. It left me with this nagging thought – how can the idea of forgiveness be included in our nation's foreign policy, starting with this war on terrorism? I am not suggesting that we lay aside our legitimate desire for justice, just that we lay aside the desire for vengeance and also include our need to forgive those who hurt us.  No doubt the suggestion would be immediately discarded in the halls of the State Department, certainly the Pentagon. But, given the record of our Iraq debacle, shouldn't some outside-the-box thinking be welcomed? How many Americans and Iraqis have to die before we see the futility of our policies of vengeance, in the name of justice?
Did you miss it? You can order the DVD and companion book here, but you can also see segments online here. Keep clicking on the left column menu for more segments. Finally, I recorded it, so ask me about borrowing my DVD copy.
If you saw the documentary – of even if you didn't and want to comment – I would love to hear from you (below).

Sunday (Apr. 13), we attempted to learn a Bible verse. I said we all need a substantial CANON of Scripture that we carry with us wherever we go. There are times when you don't have your Bible handy and you need its wisdom, comfort or fortitude. It is during those times that he Holy Spirit will often bring the right words to our remembrance. That's why the Psalmist wrote the words you hopefully have memorized: I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." That comes from Psalm 119:11.

So, how can you memorize a Bible verse - or for that matter - a name, a phone number, or directions. Here are three simple steps:

1. Register the Information
in your immediate memory or sensory memory. We often fail to remember a person's name because we didn't pay close attention to it. We didn't really forget the name. We never learned it. Say it with your lips. Visualize it. 

2. Repeat the information
Retain it in your short-term memory - the IN basket of the brain. We can hold on to about seven things at a time in our short-term memory – for about 30 seconds. Ex. Phone number.
Retention is when we transfer information from our senses to our short-term memory. The brain selects some facts to hold on to and dumps the rest.
 
3. Review the information
This enables us to transfer information from our short-term memory to long-term memory, the file cabinet of the brain. Review a verse daily for a week and you will likely have it down. After that, review it weekly. You can lengthen the time between your reviews, but you will have to review it to use it in those critical times.
 
Your Bible to go
Here are some verses to take with you wherever you go. If you know just five verses, learn these. All are the NIV translation, unless it states otherwise.
 
About memorizing Scripture
Psalm 119:11
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
 
If you only have memory space for one verse
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
 
What God expects of you
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
 
What God has done for us
Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
 
How we are saved
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith­and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God­ 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."
 
When you're in trouble – God's Emergency Number: Psalm 911
Psalm 91:1 (NLT) "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
Or Psalm 91:11 "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."
 
When you're overcome by worry or stress
1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
NLT: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
 

Jesus was on to something when he told his followers that if they forgive others who have hurt them, they will experience forgiveness themselves. That's what researchers are discovering lately. Forgiveness has liberating power. The surprise is that the one who is liberated is the one who forgives. There is a field of psychological research that focuses on the healing power of forgiveness. A new hour-long show has come out of that research that will be shown Sunday (Apr. 20) at 2:00 PM Pacific Time.

KQED Channel 9
Sun, Apr 20, 2008 -- 2:00 pm

Here's what the website says about the show:
THE POWER of FORGIVENESS explores recent research into the psychological and physical effects of forgiveness on individuals and within relationships under a wide variety of conditions and translates it into a popular, accessible documentary film for national public television. This includes feature stories on the Amish, the 9/11 tragedy and peace-building in Northern Ireland, along with interviews with renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, best-selling authors Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson and others. The film also explores the role forgiveness holds in various faiths traditions. It provides an honest look at the intensity of anger and grief that human nature is heir to. We see in the film that there are transgressions people find themselves unwilling or unable to forgive. Through character-driven stories the film shows the role forgiveness can play in alleviating anger and grief and the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that come with it.
http://www.thepowerofforgiveness.com/

I encourage you to watch the show and post your comments on the show below.

Revival fire reduces Sanct. & Office to Ashes
Facilities Coord. blames Alpha Course
Garage and lawn tractor saved

The staff and volunteers have moved their operations to Peet's Coffee Shop (temporarily?). Read more on our News Page: http://www.petalumafirst.com/news
 
Youth Groups Announce New Youth Director
Justin Timberlake to join church staff
Timberlake carried 100% of the girls vote and since girls outnumbered the boys, easily coasted to victory. Must visit Wed. Women's Group first, insists Dona W. Timberlake could not be reached for comment.  Read more on our News Page.

Church name changed to St. John's Presbyterian Church
Protests from St. John's Episcopal and St. John's Lutheran
"You can never have too many St. John's churches in a city," said Pastor Dave, "or too many Pastor Dave's," said Pastor Dave M. of St. John's Anglican Church.
Read more on our News Page.
 
Bridge to the Future Completes New Structure
Staff celebrates the new bridge from the office to Sanct.
Read more on our News Page.
 
Pastor purchases new Hummer II
Unrelated story: $60,000 reported missing from Mission Fund
Read more on our News Page.
 
If you believe all this - or any of this - please go to our News Page: http://www.petalumafirst.com/news

Happy April Fools Day

Don't believe everything you read in your email Inbox - especially our April 1 (April Fools) edition of our email news.

We did not change the name of the church, there was no literal fire (though we pray for revival), we are still looking for the right Youth Director, we're still First Presbyterian and I'm driving my new Sentra.

... but, I did shave the beard. Sometimes, democracy works! Hopefully, people will stop confusing me with the Unabomber. And, we have a guest preacher this Sunday, which gives me a little (maybe too much) time on my hands.

Seriously though,

"He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliott, missionary & martyr