Free Stuff

Got an email this morning from someone who lives in the neighborhood and said, "We just bought a new fake Christmas tree and was wondering if your church would have a use for the old one."

This should read, "We have an old worn-out fake Christmas tree that is in a condition that is too sorry for us to want to put it up in our house. We thought maybe you'd want to put it up in God's house instead."

Sure. Bring all your crap here and drop it off. Reminds me of the days when we used to collect cast-off clothing for the poor. People would have a garage sale and bring whatever didn't sell and throw it on our threshold. The gentleman (truly a gentle man) who came to pick the items up for the organization we collected for said something profound one day. "You know, Pastor," he said, "when I pick up in poor neighborhoods the clothes are clean, usable, folded and put into bags to make them easy to pick up. When I pick up here the clothes are dirty and worn out and usually have to be thrown away."

The poor know what the poor need and give graciously. The wealthy believe the poor should be happy with whatever is cast their direction.

Burning Sacred Books

A "Pastor" of a tiny non-denominational church in Gainesville, Florida has decided to seek the limelight by having his 50 member congregation burn copies of the Koran. Encouraging others to take part in what he calls the "International Burn a Koran Day," he is endeavoring to show that Islam is a religion of hate.

"Pastor" Jones is quoted on CNN as saying, "Ask yourself, have you really ever seen a happy Muslim?"

Let me ask the "Pastor" this: Have you ever encountered Jesus Christ? Have you read our sacred book (it's a big black book that's marked "Holy Bible"... you may have a copy somewhere)? Have you seen where Jesus says "They'll know you are my disciples by your love?" (John 13:35) Where's your love for people, especially those you disagree with? You don't know Jesus. You know you and you want all of us to know you. Your self-publicity will lead no one to Christ; but it will lead well-meaning people astray.

"Woe to those who call evil good" (Isaiah 5:20).

No good comes from a bad act. You, my friend, are quoted as calling Muslims "the devil." I think you need to spend some time looking in the mirror. I, for one, have seen the devil and he is you.

ACC

Labor Day

Here it is, the day of the year when everyone in the United States gives credit to the unionized labor that built the middle class during the last century... Yeah, right. The average citizen of this country is so stupid that they believe Labor Day is the last day of Summer (uh... that would be September 21st you dolts).

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Social? Like Socialism? Well yes, little Bobby... exactly.

The right-wing fanatics like Glenn Beck don't want you to concentrate on the positive effects that organized labor (and serious regulations) had upon this country. Without these two positive influences the America of the 20th Century would be a much different place. "Pottervilles" would dot the landscape instead of the suburbs that sprang up in the economic swell of the 1950's - a swell that occurred precisely because:

1. Most American workers were Unionized
2. Most American Industry was Regulated
3. The Wealthy were taxed within an inch of their lives.

To circumvent paying up to 90% of their income to the government in the form of taxes, the wealthy reinvested into the economy. (Every study not done by a Republican "Think Tank" comprised of wealthy corporate types concurs with this statement).

An individual has no bargaining power. In today's economy which was soured by the destruction of organized labor under the watchful gaze of the "Department of Labor" which became an extension of the aforementioned wealthy corporate types; by the deregulation of industry; by the wealthy being allowed to hoard their wealth - the individual who seeks better working conditions; better pay; better benefits - is turned out onto the street.

Only through collective bargaining - a right that is supposedly guaranteed to every citizen of this country - can a worker succeed in this market.

One last rant... the Republicans are running on a platform of creating jobs - aren't these the same assholes who allowed their corporate handlers to take American jobs oversees in order to deepen their pockets even further?

Join a Union. Support Unions. It's the only way that we can make certain that this society is not divided into two: the workers who give their lives for the benefit of the wealthy and the wealthy who believe themselves to be genetically superior to those whom they bleed to death.

ACC

Basketball Jones

Perhaps it's because I lived and ministered in an inner-city environment that basketball bothers me so much. Every kid was going to be the next LeBron James and they went nowhere that they weren't dribbling a basketball. Thwank... thwank... thwank... the sound of dozens of basketballs echoed off every wall and windowsill until everything vibrated with the jarring staccato thwank of the basketball against concrete; against asphalt; against dirt; against anything the ball could be bounced against.

And where there are basketballs there are hoops. Every parking lot in the inner city has at least one basketball hoop. Sometimes there are as many as 6 of them in a parking lot that would hold no more than 20 cars. The church parking lot had 4 of them - two immediately outside my bedroom window in the parish house. Thwank... thwank... thwank...

So here I am, 1000 miles away both literally and economically - surrounded now by expensive McMansions and townhomes instead of the projects - with 2 basketball hoops immediately outside my office window. But here's the catch... no one's playing basketball here. Wealthy suburban kids don't look to bball as their way out of poverty. These two poles stand as silent sentinals over several acres of parking lot. So when I suggested to the church council the other night that we remove them because they are eyesores it was with great surprise the vehemence of their outrage.

"No!" one businessman shouted, veritably pounding his shoe on the table in Khrushchevesque fashion, "the kids play here all the time."

"Oh, that's right," added one of our blue-haired charter members. "The kids enjoy it and so many of their fathers come with them and teach them the game."

Now, I know I'm new here... I've only been sitting in this chair looking out this window at those two basketball hoops for 10 years... but just when exactly are these good people looking at the hoops and seeing them used? Let's be honest: I'm here morning, noon, and night. I'm here Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. No one is playing basketball here. Period.

But I can't argue with the council. They were here before I got here... they'll be here after everyone else has forgotten my name - and those two damn hoops will be here forever also...

Maybe I need to start dribbling a ball around here. Perhaps if they hear enough thwank from me they'll realize they aren't hearing it anywhere else.

ACC

To The Class of 19**

Today a few of the members of my high school graduating class (the class of 19**) are meeting to share stories, drink, play golf and "reminisce" about the good times they had back at old ******* High. It's one of those huge milestone reunion years and I must admit having had a small tug at my heart about going. But that tug was a short-lived one.

I began thinking about who I am today as compared to who I was ** years ago and I realized that I've always been the same person. My values and standards are not today those of the world, nor were they then. I wasn't Mr. Popularity in High School and frankly the only people who attend reunions are those who were.

There are a few people who I would like to see at least once again in this life: That red-headed girl who I fell head-over-heels for my senior year; my friend **** who always seemed to know what I was thinking and whose mother made incredible stuffed peppers. But I know the whereabouts of most the people I cared about in high school and how their lives are - that's what's important.

So, I'm letting others worry about their hair plugs and boob jobs, dentures and liposuction. Today others are practicing the stories they're going to tell and hoping that their dirty little secrets aren't known to anyone else who's attending the reunion. And I'm going to say a funeral this morning, witness a wedding this afternoon and go to dinner with a friend tonight and do something that most of those attending the High School Reunion won't: Feel comfortable in my own skin.

God Bless them all.
ACC

"I'm Not Happy"

I had an appointment today with a middle-aged woman from my congregation. Her husband left her about 7 years ago with two kids to raise. She's doing an exceptional job, but the stress of raising two teens on her own is taking its toll. It's been a while since I've seen her and she's looking much older than her years.

I'm at a loss to explain the phenomenon of men leaving their children to be raised by other men while they go on to raise someone else's children. Like this woman who was in my office - her husband deserted her so that he could marry a divorced woman with two kids of her own. Can you say Stupid... I knew you could.

Okay, this is for the men in my audience only (you women can stop reading now if you'd like): What the hell is wrong with you guys? Grow up and stop thinking with your reproductive organ. You think someone else's ex-wife is better than the one you're making? Think again. You're not only making a mess of your family - you're going to add to your burdens by trying to raise someone else's children. Now your own children will resent you and your step-children will resent you. Yeah, good choice, dipsh**.

"I'm not happy." is the universal rant of middle-aged men. "Wah! I've given of myself and now I have nothing left to give." "My needs aren't being fulfilled."

Get over yourselves! You're not men... you're overgrown children.

Grow up. Your children need you. You made these kids - take the responsibility to raise them. No one said life would make you happy. Your job as husband and father is to make other people happy. And in giving happiness to others you'll find happiness for yourself. Or did your dad forget to tell you that?

ACC

Assorted and A Sundry Rants

Random Rants:

Genetically engineered plants are now being reported to having cross-pollinated with weeds creating what some experts are calling "unforeseen challenges" to the ecosystem. "Unforeseen" Really? Monsanto and their ilk are out there changing the genetic coding of plants (in some cases adding animal genes to the genetic code of plants) and no one, no one, thought about the bees and winds carrying pollen from their "Frankinplants" into the surrounding fields?! Holy Shit... what else are these rocket scientists not thinking about?

Alex Rodriquez hits his 600th Major League home run and this is news? It's the genetically engineered plant thing in human form. He's "modified" himself through the use of illegal substances and we applaud his effort? Smiles and nods to all those who think he "earned" these runs.

Idiots in Elected Office are turning off street lamps (see Colorado Springs), tearing up roads they cannot afford to maintain and replacing them with gravel, firing teachers / closing schools / drastically shortening the school year (see Hawaii) and we're arguing that we cannot allow the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans rise to the levels found in the halcyon days of the Clinton era? Really? We're not talking about making the obscenely rich pay the 70% they did before Saint Reagan took office... we're not talking the 90% the richest 2% paid following the 2nd World War... we're only talking taking the rate up to 38% from it's current level of 35%. Keeping the Bush-era welfare to the rich is costing the nation $70 Billion (yes, that's a "B") in revenue per year... actually $1.5 Trillion (yes, that's a "T") in the first 2 years of the cuts. So F*** the street lights, the roads, the crumbling infrastructure, the school... make certain the wealthy get their welfare funded by Chinese capitalists and F*** everyone else.

ACC