Reflecting on DRC/Rwanda Conversations

I’ve again recently engaged in some discussions concerning my writings about the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.  These discussions have at times been respectful questioning of my motives, and at other times ad hominem attacks of my person and motives. 

As a person who writes about social situations, and especially about controversial situations, I fully expect such interaction.  Everyone who reads my writing is entitled to his or her own interpretation and belief. 

After these recent discussions, I want to lay out my issues as I see them to make things as clear as possible.

First of all, and this is very important:  I am NOT a journalist.  I am a pastor and theology student.  I take situations and frame them theologically.  Whether I mention God or not by name, God is first and foremost the subject of what I have to say.  When I say, “The Congolese people deserve peace,” I say that because all of God’s children deserve peace.

I have been told in recent conversations that I should go to Rwanda to do my own research to find the truth.  I object to this argument on several points.  First, the research has been done.  Why do I need to research what has already been researched?  Some may object to the findings of this research, but the Government of Rwanda has been given multiple opportunities to present their case.  They have presented arguments against this research, though the world community has not accepted it.  Why would anything I have to find be any different? 

Let me elaborate more on this point.  Rwanda engages in intimidation techniques of those with whom they disagree.  See this interview with Steve Hege of the Group of Experts that presented the United Nations with a report incriminating Members within the Government of Rwanda with supporting the M23 Militia that has invaded and is terrorizing the people of the DRC (http://theglobalobservatory.org/interviews/414-interview-with-steve-hege-former-coordinator-un-group-of-experts-on-the-drc.html) In this article, Hege describes his research methodology, but also the intimidation techniques used against him.

I also have been victim of Rwanda’s intimidation techniques.  To me this is abhorrent.  I am of NO threat to any government.  I will not go into detail, but those who read this who have engaged in this intimidation know what I am speaking of.  I know of others who also have been victims. 

I have to ask as I did in a recent post…If you are right, and all of these reports are wrong, why intimidate? Why not prove to us that we are wrong?  I have yet to receive ONE piece of evidence disproving ANYTHING.  I have not received ONE web link, one article, or one substantive piece of evidence.  All I’ve received is name-calling and “intimidation.”  Those who have been respectful have told me to do my own research.  Again, I ask, why?

The Group of Experts Report (GoE)(http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2012/843) implicates Rwandan officials of illegal activities.  Rwanda did respond to this report (http://www.minaffet.gov.rw/fileadmin/templates/minaffet/doc/Rwanda's%20Response.pdf) and the Group of Experts replied to it in Annex 3 in the GoE Report above. 

I will be fair in saying that I realize there are multiple militias in the DRC that are NOT affiliated with Rwanda.  The DRC is a poorly run nation under the poor leadership of Joseph Kabila.  Kabila is nothing short of an incompetent dictator.  When he sent DRC forces to battle M23 in the city of Goma, it was the Congolese forces who committed sexual violence and rape against THEIR OWN women along with the UN Peacekeeping forces (MONUSCO); NOT M23. 

The DRC is a living Hell for its citizens who deserve much better!  They live in abject poverty since the nation is in constant chaos and militia battles.  And remember, this is one of the richest nations in the world with minerals.

I also do not need to travel to Rwanda to do research because of how its president Paul Kagame treats opposition.  He arrests and even kills those who show opposition.  Rwanda is a one party state.  (http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/01/13/the-case-against-rwanda-s-president-paul-kagame.html).  Kagame is also responsible for the deaths of millions. Estimates range from 6-10 million dead.  Following the Rwandan Genocide, Kagame invaded the DRC two times under the guise of attacking those who committed the genocide.  However, Kagame ordered his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) army to kill indiscriminately, thus sparking the First and Second Congo Wars (http://www.friendsofthecongo.org/pdf/mapping_report_en.pdf). 

It is not simple to explain away the situation in either Rwanda or the DRC.  Yes, Kagame has modernized Rwanda.  He has brought positive changes.  But, this is at the expense of millions of lives and despotic rule. 

The DRC suffers not only because of Rwanda – they would have their own problems if M23 were not involved. 

So, what is the solution?  The solution is NOT more violence.  Though Kagame is a war criminal and a murderer bordering on a perpetrator of genocide, he does not need to be killed.  He needs to stop all violence and autocratic rule.  The United Nations Security Council needs to formally charge him with war crimes with the International Criminal Court where he needs to be tried. 

Rwanda then needs a leader that will lead them to true reconciliation following the Genocide of 1994.  Kagame’s solution was to blame it entirely on the Hutu tribe and then “officially” eradicate tribal affiliation, while still maintaining that if one even mentions that Hutus suffered, that person is guilty of the crime of Genocide Denial (punishable by long prison sentences).  This reconciliation will be painful and it will be long. But, it is possible.  It happened in South Africa after apartheid (which involved senseless massacres).  It unofficially happened in Zimbabwe after independence when Zimbabwe emerged from what was once called Rhodesia.  Now, whites and blacks can live in the same country without killing one another.  Reconciliation is not perfect. There may be grievances for a long time, but it allows for the wounds to begin to truly heal.  Kagame has only pronounced them healed with no treatment.

As for the DRC, the solution is very complex.  First, they need a competent leader.  That leader needs competent regional leaders.  These leaders must be democratically elected and truly represent the people.  Congo’s wealth must belong to the Congolese people.  Foreign invasion (military or corporate) must stop.  Instead of invasion, there needs to be investment and partnership. 

Is any of this possible?  Absolutely!  It is all possible.  Is it likely?  It’s as likely as a snowball in Hell.  Kagame is seduced by the idolatry of power.  If he lets go of power, he knows he will be charged with serious war crimes.  Therefore, he must continue his despotic rule and indoctrination of his citizens.  In the DRC, this is only possible if the people of the DRC say enough is enough.  Sadly, they are so used to suffering that many don’t know another way of life.  They’ve accepted it as normal. 

To conclude, I will be accused of being a neo-colonialist.  I will be accused of being a white preaching to Africa how to run itself.  As for the colonialist, that is a distraction.  Nowhere did I mention that any foreign intervention is needed.  It is true, I am white.  I can’t do anything about that.  Am I preaching to Africa?  I suppose I am if one considers it preaching to say that murder and genocide are wrong; if one considers despotism and rape evil.  But, these are not confined to Africa – these are universal realities and truths.

There will also be name calling and someone will ask, what makes me an expert?  To that, I ask, “Does one have to be an expert to know that people should be able to live in peace?” “Does one have to be an expert to know that genocide and murder are wrong?”  I think not. 

Others will say that I’m jumping into something that is none of my business.  How is this not my business?  When tragedies happen in the US, isn’t that everyone’s business?  Shouldn’t the world care more about each other and not less?  Aren’t we all Children of God?

Some will say I don’t know what I’m talking about because I haven’t been there.  As a Pastor, I have never met Jesus in the flesh, but I put my faith in him because I’ve met him in other non-physical ways.  Since I haven’t “been there” with Jesus does that mean I don’t know what I’m talking about?

None of this is to promote hatred, it’s to promote peace.  Is it controversial? – absolutely!  Will people hate me? – probably.  Will I hate them back? – no!

If You Have a Zombie Apocalypse Plan - Read This!

I was quite disturbed lately to find out how many people actually have a Zombie Apocalypse plan.  At first I thought this was a joke or some TV show that I missed.  But then I realized that some people are very serious about this.  They may not believe in true zombies, but they do have actual plans for Global Catastrophes.  I was even more shocked when I saw a TV show dedicated to people with such plans.  It was disturbing to see the level to which people will go for a "what if" scenario.  

Will something catastrophic happen?  Most definitely.  Will it happen in our lifetime?  I have no idea. Should we prepare for it? I don't know how we can.  

Some of these people are Christians. What is the Christian stance on all of this?  How can a person go to church and talk about "Hope in Christ," and then go home and prepare for "Doom and Gloom?"  


The connection is not hard to see.  It was made after World War II in a term called "Christian Realism"

Christian Realism is a philosophical perspective developed by the theologian and public intellectual Reinhold Niebuhr in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Niebuhr argued that the Kingdom of God cannot be realized on earth because of the innately corrupt tendencies of society. Due to the injustices that arise on earth, a person is therefore forced to compromise the ideal of the kingdom of heaven on earth. Niebuhr argued that human perfectibility was an illusion, highlighting the sinfulness of humanity at a time when the world was confronted by the horrors of experiences such World War ll, the reigns of both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, and the Holocaust.  (This Definition is Directly Copied from This Wikipedia Article on Christian Realism)

By all visible intents and purposes, Christian Realism, appears to be the way that Christians should live. We live in a sinful world.  There are evil people.  Society is corrupt.  Because of these "realities" (as defined by Reinhold Niebuhr), living exactly the way that God intends for us to live is impossible.  We can live as closely to God's virtues as possible, but we must make concessions because of the sins of others...Or so the argument goes.

It is my argument, however, that if we buy into "Christian Realism," we deny the reality of the Gospel.  If we live as people who live according to "Christian Realism," we are in essence saying that the Gospel is a "dream," or a "mere good idea," or an "unattainable utopia."  "Christian Realism" and The Gospel hold two distinct manners of living for Christians in the world.  Each defines how Christians engage the world.  "Christian Realism" says that we should engage the world on the world's terms, but doing so in "as Christian of a manner as possible."  The Gospel says that we should engage the world on Christ's terms.

First of all, let me be clear that Reinhold Niebuhr developed this Theology at the time when media could, for the first time, give great attention to the mass genocide of the Holocaust and the tragedies of World War II and the crimes of Hitler and Stalin.  Niebuhr was not a bad person. In fact, Niebuhr contributed greatly to the Kingdom of God in his ministry.  Niebuhr, to the best of my knowledge, was a faithful Christian and follower of Christ.  My argument is not with him as a person, but with this one particular philosophy or theology.

It is true, we do live in a corrupt world filled with evil people.  That is undeniable.  We just have to turn on the news to see that for a fact.  The Gospel is not a "fairy tale" that we look to in order to say that none of this is real and that we just have to wait to "get to heaven" for it all to get better.  The Gospel IS about Heaven, but the Gospel is a message for the HERE and NOW as well.  In Academic Theology, we often call this the "Already and the Not Yet" that has been been revealed and realized in Christ.  

Christ has "Already" come to set up his reign and his Kingdom on earth. This was accomplished through his birth, life, teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension.  He reigns as King "Already."  But his reign is "Not Yet" fully realized.  The entire earth does not yet fully accept or know Christ.  Christ has "Not Yet" returned to reign in glory.

But the question comes - How do we reconcile Christ with the reality of evil in the world.  It is true that there is war, murder, rape, abuse, fear, robbery, abuse, and the list goes on.  Christian Realism says that we must deal with these powers on their terms.  The Gospel says that we should deal with them on Christ's terms.  Using logic, both can be true, neither can be true, one can be true, one can be more true than the other, or a different method of engaging the sinful powers must be true.

I entirely argue that the Gospel is the way that we are to engage the powers of sin and evil, and that "Christian Realism" is but a "cop-out" for those who need to grow the virtues of patience and faith.  For those who use "Christian Realism" as their standard of engaging the powers of evil, they are saying, "I believe that Christ is Lord, but not entirely, so I have to finish the job myself."  In essence, that makes the practitioner a "little Christ."  

The Gospel, on the other hand, says, "Christ is Lord." There is no more to that statement.  If the Gospel is true, then it is true.  If we believe what we say we believe, then we don't save the world by the powers of the gun, the power of the fist or any power of violence. In fact, WE don't save the world at all.  Christ saves the world.  Our job is to spread Christ's message.  That message cannot be spread by violence.  The Prince of Peace cannot be taught by the power of the gun.

So, what do we do with evil?  Obviously, we don't ignore it.  Christ never told us to stand idly by and let evil dominate.  For some reason, those who believe "Christian Realism" is the way to engage the world, often believe that those who don't share their belief live in a fantasy world.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Those who use The Gospel to engage the world live anything but a fantasy lifestyle.  They take up their cross daily.  Crosses are not pleasant - they are torture devices.  Followers of the Gospel feel the pain of those who suffer, even if those people are on the other side of the world and they do not have any personal contact with them.  

Christ told us to engage the powers.  Christ engaged the powers.  The "catch" is that Christ engaged them on his terms, not theirs.  

Over the centuries, brutal regimes have risen and done mass damage. Niebuhr used Hitler as one of his reasons for developing "Christian Realism."  I will use Hitler as well since most people are familiar with this example.  Hitler rose to power because he was allowed to rise to power.  Hitler did not meet opposition.  Hitler stayed in power because he was allowed to stay in power. It would not have taken violence to remove him from power; it would have taken civil disobedience.  The problem was that there was a lack of conviction and courage.  Would people have died in disobeying and opposing Hitler?  Absolutely! But, those who believe the Gospel know that death is not the end.  Martyrdom is not a goal, but sometimes it happens.  

As Hitler was rising to power, no one said, "No!"  No unified groups in Germany stood their ground and said that his doctrines of "racial purity" were evil.  Yes, there were small resisters here and there, but fear overtook the majority of the population, so they jumped aboard Hitler's bandwagon.  Had people not allowed fear to overtake them and they unified by saying, "No," as Hitler was rising, Hitler never would have made it to power.  Yes, violence would have been used against them, but if the Gospel is true, we don't need to fear the power of the sword.  This hypothetical first resistance could have saved millions of lives.

Today we face many challenges.  Genocides, financial meltdowns, massacres, murders, rapes, wars, crime, robberies, and the list goes on.  "Christian Realism" tells us that we must engage these problems as they are.  "Christian Realism" essentially denies that Christ is engaged already in these issues.  "Christian Realism" says that Christ is the ultimate savior, but we are to be the "mini-Christs."  That borders on Heresy.  The Gospel also realizes that these are serious issues.  But, the Gospel says that we must engage these issues on Christ's terms.  We can't let fear rule.  We can't let "what if" games run our lives.  We need to confront these problems head on, but with the power given to us by Christ.  We need to understand that confronting them will not be convenient.  But we don't need convenient.  We don't need better or more efficient weapons or systems.  We have the best weapon and system, and that is Christ.  We just have to remember that we must confront these powers on Christ's terms - not on their terms.

Why Resort to Intimidation Techniques if You are Right?

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you don't need much background information.  I've written quite a  bit concerning the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  According to the United Nations Group of Experts Report, the M23 Militia, which attacked and overtook the Congolese city of Goma, but since has retreated pending negotiations with the Congolese Government (which, to the best of my knowledge are happening at the time of my writing this on 1/4/13), is not only supported by, but commanded by people within the Rwandan Federal Government.  There are other reports, including the Mapping Report of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1993-2003 accusing Rwanda's current president, Paul Kagame, who was then a military general of war crimes within Congo's borders. (If you need more information, go back and read more of my blog posts, or read news sources on these issues).

The Rwandan Government denies all of the above charges.  Please note - I am not making the charges - these come from the United Nations.

That leads me to my first question - Who is telling the truth - The United Nations? Rwanda? Both? Neither?  Obviously someone is telling the truth, at least on some level, and someone is lying, or at the very least, someone is uninformed.  Rwanda claims that they are victims of some sort of conspiracy.  Could that be true?  The United Nations says that Rwanda is guilty. Could that be true?

Right now, I'm going to discuss what happens when a person takes on issues involving the Rwandan Government.  I will speak ONLY for myself, though I know of several other people who go through similar experiences.  I will then pose questions for which I hope someone will answer.  Answer them in my comment section, or on my Twitter account.

I am going to be somewhat vague in some things, and I beg your forgiveness.  Also, if you do not know me personally, please know that I am telling the truth, and know that I am sane (Go ahead and make your sarcastic comments now...hahaha).

I know for a fact that I am or have been on a "watch list" by the Rwandan Government.  I do not know at what level this "watch list" is held.  I have proof of this, and I ask that you please just accept this.  The reason I was put on this list was due to a letter asking a US University to reconsider having President Kagame as their Commencement Speaker.

You can be assured that I am no threat to anyone.  I wish no violence upon anyone.  My only "weapon" is my Bible and my "pen" (or computer, or whatever I'm writing with that day).  Ok, I am clumsy, so if I trip and my Bible flies out of my hand and hits you on the head causing you slight irritation, that is unintentional violence.  I promise that is as bad as it will get.  Assuming I don't lose consciousness, you will get an apology from me.

I know, furthermore, that I've been monitored online.  Again, I will remain vague, but I have ways of knowing.

I have had underhanded intimidation techniques used against me.  This has happened several times.  I'm afraid these people think I am bigger than I am.  I am a blogger.  I am not an expert. I am not a government official.  I only ask that people look for a peaceful solution.  These intimidation techniques have taken several forms.

I have also had my character attacked and been called a "false preacher," an "instrument of the devil," and other such names.  None of these character attacks come with documentation proving that what I document is wrong.  Trust me - I WANT TO BE WRONG! I don't want millions of people suffering to be blamed on this government (which then implicates other governments, most likely including my own).  I WANT TO BE WRONG!  PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG!

Now, my questions:

First:  If you are right, and these reports are wrong and you are right, what is the need to resort to intimidation? I know I am not the only one.  Why are dissenters in Rwanda jailed? Why have some "disappeared?" Don't intimidate us - PROVE US WRONG! We don't want to be right! We WANT to be your friends.  You are our Brothers and Sisters.  I can only speak for myself, but instead of trying to intimidate me, have a conversation with me.  Some who disagree with me with all their heart have, and I respect them. We have open and honest conversations. We try to understand each other. In the end, we want the same thing - Peace!

Second: If you are right, why is dissension handled so forcefully? Yes, order must be kept, but if you claim to be the society you say you are, then prove it.

Third: You don't owe me or any other individual anything.  But, as a member of the United Nations, you do owe the World certain treaty based requirements.  This world will only know peace when the love of peace is loved more than the love of power.  Don't we all want peace?

You are going to do what you want to do. This is the time to identify Rwanda as a dictatorial regime or a democracy.  The ball is in your court.  I pray that you make the right choice.

What is the Peace of God - Sermon

Matthew 5:38-48

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; ⁴⁰and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; ⁴¹and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. ⁴²Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

What is the Peace of God? 

What is Peace? How are we even supposed to define it?  Does peace mean that there is no war or no violence?  That can't be the answer - or rather - that can't be the entire answer. Can it?

Even if we got rid of all physical violence - war, killing, fighting, etc., we still wouldn't have complete peace, would we?  We'd still be left with arguing, bitterness, faction forming, gossiping, and division.

Even if we got rid of the outward forms of disagreement, I still don't think we'd have peace - at least not the peace that Jesus is speaking of.  We'd have inner conflict, bad thoughts about others and even about ourselves.  That's certainly not peace!

·      

Is Peace even Possible?  Jesus is sure talking like it is, but when he spoke these words did he know of the evil people we'd be dealing with?  Did he know we may be attacked?  What about self-defense?  We don't want to appear weak, do we?  We don't want people to take advantage of us, do we? Certainly, if we are peaceful in the way Jesus is speaking, those things will happen, right?  We'll be punching bags for others, we'll have a virtual "sign" on our forehead saying how anyone can walk all over us...right?  

Let's explore all this.  I'm sure that Jesus knew what he was talking about.  He was, after all, a Jew in the middle of Roman occupation.  He knew what it was to be oppressed.  People came to him all the time asking for something from him - usually a miracle - and in scripture, he most always gave it to them.  He knew what it was like to be "used."  People insulted Jesus all the time.  They tried to kill him (before the cross), and he never retaliated.  He knew what it meant to turn the other cheek.  And he was God in the flesh - so, the words he spoke were informed!

·    

Thomas Merton, a Catholic priest and monk gave the following quote: “We can’t be at peace with each other because we’re not at peace with ourselves.  We’re not at peace with ourselves because we’re not at peace with God."

What does Jesus say about being at peace with each other? Jesus tells us to, "turn the other cheek," – Now what does that mean?  Does he really mean that if someone slaps you that you are to really let them slap your other cheek?  Maybe.  But more importantly, think about what it means to turn your cheek.  If you do it with your head down and with fear in your eyes, yes, you are saying, "I'm your punching bag."  But, if you do it with your head up and trust in Christ, as you turn your head, you have to look the other person in the eyes, and that is a sign of power.  Now, don't take that too literally - this isn't about eye contact - it's about power and peace.  When you turn the other cheek, you're telling the offender that you too are human; you too are as worthy of respect and dignity as they are; you too are equal to them.  You are also saying that the offender may hurt your body, but they can never get to your soul. Yes, your body is important - it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. But one day, this body will die - and one day we will be reunited with this body, though in a "heavenly" form. When you turn your cheek, you send a message that you have God's peace within you and that you are willing to be at peace even with the offender.

·    

But is this even possible?  Yes, but only if we’re at peace with ourselves and with God.

How do we find peace with ourselves? Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵so that you may be children of your Father in heaven." We don’t love our enemies and pray for our persecutors just for their sake – we also do it for our sakes so WE can be God’s children. Turning things over to God brings peace to ourselves. Realizing we aren’t God is the best realization of peace with ourselves we can make – we can’t fix everything - it's just not possible.  As God's people, we have an important job, don't forget that, but our job is not as important as God's! Our job is to love others, plant seeds, show the way, after that, it’s up to the other people to make the choices and God to work in their hearts.

Think of a farmer before the days of modern machinery. The farmer would plant a seed.  The farmer watered the seed, nurtured the seed, made sure it had the ability to get enough light, water, fertilizer, but after that, the farmer couldn't do anything else to make the seed grow.  It was up to God.  God controlled the weather. God made the seed burst out of the soil.  The farmer still had to nurture the new plant, but God kept it growing.

    If you are at peace with yourself, you don’t have to worry about being good enough, smart enough, good looking enough, or whatever – Success as the world defines it is really nothing – Faithfulness is everything!  But first, we have to be at peace with God.

What does it mean to be at peace with God? Jesus says “⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

·      Does he mean, “perfect?” Can we be perfect? John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement and now Methodist Church and other branches, said that over time we can reach perfection in love of God and neighbor.  That DOES NOT mean that we can be perfect like God is perfect - we won't stop sinning, we won't know things like God knows things, we won't be God.  It DOES mean that our love will grow so that we love God and love others more perfectly - but even that is always in a state of growing.

·      As we approach perfection,we acknowledge who God is and who we aren’t. This only comes through faithful practice and faithful obedience. When we let God be God and come to be at peace with that fact we come to be at peace with God.

  Only then - When we are at peace with others, ourselves, and God, do we really know the peace that God wants us to know and experience.  Let us all seek that peace, not only for ourselves, but for our world!

Christmas Eve Sermon - "Signs and Wonders"

Matthew 1:18-2:11

¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

2

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ⁶‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” ⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Sermon:  “Signs and Wonders”

         I’ve always wondered why, out of the 4 Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – only Matthew and Luke decided to include the Christmas story – the story of Jesus’ Birth.  Mark and John never explain why they don’t include it, but if you read each Gospel, you’ll find that each writer isn’t merely writing to just write a biography, each is writing to cast Jesus in a certain light – or to prove something about Jesus. 

         For example, John begins his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…”  John is trying to prove that Jesus, God’s Son existed for all eternity and was active in the creation of the world, and that he was both God and Human. 

         But, today, we heard the words from the Gospel of Matthew.  And if you listened closely, you’ll find that the Christmas Story was filled with Signs and Wonders.  Did they really happen? Yes. But Matthew chose to emphasize them to  emphasize the miraculous nature of Jesus coming and dwelling on earth. 

         First, we find Mary pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Now, if that isn’t a Sign or a Wonder, I don’t know what is!  Things like this just don’t happen on a regular basis!  What would you say if someone told you that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit? What if that person were your wife, sister, or girlfriend?  Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes – I mean sandals – for a moment.  Think of what he thought of the situation.  Just because this is in the Bible doesn’t mean we’re not dealing with regular people.  We often think – Joseph – Bible – He’s used to miracles.  Well, let me assure you…That’s NOT how it worked.

         The next sign that happened was that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him it would all be OK.  A dream?  Now, think about that – Am I the only one here who has weird dreams?  Am I the only one who has VIVID weird dreams?  But still, Joseph trusted it was from God – and he was right.  Talk about a Sign – A Wonder!

         For some reason, Matthew decides to fast forward the story 2 years or so.  He doesn’t make it obvious unless you pay very close attention to the details in the scripture – When the wise men reached the baby Jesus, he was living in a house – he wasn’t in the stable.  It’s true our traditional manger scenes show the wise men showing up on the same night Jesus was born, but that’s not how it really happened.  But when you think about it, does the date really matter?  The fact THAT they came is the sign – the wonder that is more important.  They came following a star, and we’ll come back to that one.  But first, let’s look at the gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Are these signs of anything?

         Gold is a sign of royalty.  Gold is the sign that the baby Jesus is King and would be King forever and ever.  The frankincense was a sign of Jesus being God in the flesh.  In the Old Testament, frankincense was used in the Temple worship whenever the name of God was mentioned, so when people smelled frankincense, they associated it with God.  The final gift, myrrh, is a resin that came from small thorny trees in the Middle East.  This resin was used in the embalming of bodies as well as in the Temple as incense.  Myrrh was a sign of what Jesus’ future held – his life would be a sacrifice for the world.

         Now, back to the star.  The star had to be the most significant sign and wonder of all.  Astronomers have said that a Supernova occurred at the same time of Christ’s birth.  I’m no scientist, but I do know that a supernova is an exploding star.  Astronomers say this star would have been visible exactly over Bethlehem.  So, God caused a star to explode to announce the birth of his Son.  But, if that wasn’t wondrous enough, I know enough about stars to realize that it takes years for the light of a star to reach the earth – sometimes thousands and even millions of years.  Even the light of our own sun takes about 8 minutes to reach us.  So the light we see is 8 minutes old.  So, God essentially caused a stellar explosion thousands, if not millions of years before Christ’s birth to mark the exact date of Christ’s birth!  Take a few moments to think about that!

         But signs and wonders don’t end at Christmas time.  God is still speaking.  The baby who was born in a manger is the same God-Man who rose from the dead and is still alive today.  We can notice signs and wonders every single day if we just keep our senses open to them.  Some are huge, and some are tiny. 

         Have you ever gotten a feeling that you should do something or say something? Or the opposite – you SHOULDN’T do or say something. We often call that a “gut feeling” or your “conscience speaking.”  But, isn’t that just another way of saying God is giving you a sign?  Have you ever been in a bad situation and the “right words” just came out of your mouth?  Afterwards, you probably looked back and thought, “Where did that come from?”  That’s just one of God’s Wonders – Giving us the right words at the right time.

         Did you ever feel lost? I don’t mean lost in direction – I mean lost in life.  You didn’t know what to do, how to handle a situation, or even where to begin.  Whatever you were facing was so drastic that it seemed as if you were defeated before even beginning.  But look!  Where are you now?  Maybe you’re still in the middle of the situation, but you’re here – surrounded by people who love you – and yes, people in this church love you – and more importantly, you haven’t been abandoned by God.  That’s why you’re here.  Isn’t that a wonder – a miracle?

         If we want a sign from God, all we have to do is keep our senses open.  Listen – you’ll hear God speaking through others, through the laugh of children, through music, hear the beautiful words of Scripture; See – you’ll see God at work in creation, in the work of his people, in the Church, in the selfless unfailing love shown to people who are given 2^nd, 3^rd, and even 10^th and 11^th chances and even more, see the word of God written in the Bible; Feel the breeze – the wind that is God’s breath, the touch of a friend’s assuring hand on your shoulder, the feel of someone else’s shoulder as you place your hand on their shoulder to comfort them; Smell the beautiful smells of nature – flowers, pine, grass, rain, the smell of cold, the smell of a new born baby, the smell of a home cooked meal made to say, “I love you,” or a last minute meal put together to say, “I wish I could take your pain away, but I’m here for you – Let this meal I made for you help take a little of your stress away;” Taste the gift of food that God has given us, notice how food brings us together with total strangers in the seemingly mundane act of eating, taste the simple taste of bread and grape juice we use to remember the body and blood of Christ and the entire story that recalls.

         God uses all of our senses to show signs and wonders.  It only depends on how you decide to look at the world.  The world can be “doom and gloom” if you want it to be, or you could take God seriously – He sent his son at Christmas for a reason – to give us Signs and Wonders in a never ending cycle of Signs and Wonders – to let us know, in the words of Julian of Norwich (a Christian Mystic from the 1300’s): “All shall be well, and all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be well.”

My Personal Christmas Message

Dear Friends, Family, Readers of my Blog, and Followers of my Twitter Account,

It's customary for me to write a sarcastic Christmas letter every year around this time, but for some reason, I just don't feel this is the year to do that.  No, I'm not going all sappy on you. Yes, you can expect one in the future.  But this year, I really felt the need to write a general letter about specific things.

I'm not good at expressing emotions verbally.  That's why I took up writing this blog.  I can much better express what I want to say in writing than I can with my voice - that is, when it's something from me.  I can easily speak on issues which I am passionate about, but when when expressing my own feelings, I often find myself at a lack of words, or finding myself (gasp) choked up.

2012 has been a tough year for me, and it has reminded me why I need all of you in my life.  At the very beginning of the year (literally - on New Year's Day), our entire household was sick with a stomach bug. I'll spare you the details, but let me tell you it was NOT pretty!  You do the math - 4 people, 2 bathrooms, 2 adults, 2 SMALL children - nothing good can come out of that situation.  But, we healed slowly but surly.

Just a few days later, a very close friend of ours died of a failed heart transplant. My wife and I felt an unbelievable amount of grief.  And if we felt that, I can't imagine what her family felt!  Though it wasn't fair, and it wasn't good, seeing God's people at work was amazing.  Her husband, also a very close friend, was taken care of as were her twin boys she left behind.  Neighbors, Church Members, and Friends from across the country stayed at the house making sure he had every need taken care of.  The sense of community was amazing.  It was something I never saw before.  Our Friends are African - they followed their tradition from their home country.  I think we need to adopt that tradition.  I learned a lot from the people there.  I learned the true meaning of community and love.

I went through a long period of severe migraines.  I've had migraines all my life.  But they were worse than ever.  They rendered me useless for days at a time.  For a while I really thought I was dying from a condition the doctors hadn't discovered.  It turns out that I have several causes to my migraines.  Genetics are not on my side - they run on both sides of my family.  Stress causes migraines, and going to seminary is stressful - the amount of work is literally unreal.  Add on top of that the fact that I pastor a church and have a family.  Don't get me wrong, even if I could, I wouldn't change any of it.  Then the weather also provokes the migraines.  Thankfully, they found a medicine that works most of the time for me.  It's not 100% effective, but it works most of the time.  It took me half the year to start to feel normal again, but I'm getting back to life.

Most of all, I want to thank all of the people in my life.  I can't name each person because I know I'll forget someone.  But, if you are reading this, rest assured, you have in some way made my life better.  You have taught me how to live, you have raise me, you have challenged me, you have read the things I've written, you have disagreed with me, you have encouraged me, you have put up with me when I've been difficult, you have put me back in my place, you have given me knowledge, you have kept me from feeling too arrogant.  Whatever it is, and whoever you are, I thank God for you.  Is this "generic?" Yes.  But, you know who you are, and you know how we've interacted, and you know where you fit in.

I want to thank my family - both immediate family and distant relatives.  In today's world, it's nearly impossible to live close to our families.  But thanks to technology, we can stay in contact.  Of course, it's not the same.  The days of the "living room" polka parties and square dances that my Grandma told me about are gone.  I have to wonder whether we are better or worse without them.  OK, I could do without the polka, but I think you know what I mean.  Just because we are not close in distance, you are all close to me in heart and spirit.  I am who I am because of my family.

I want to thank my friends.  Let me be honest - It's not easy to be my friend.  I have a lot of things that make me, well, unique.  But my friends have put up with me, allowed me to be me, and have been there for me - even when I haven't for them.  I can't ask for a greater group of people.

Through my blog, I've met many people I'll probably never see in person.  Some have been pleasant, some have not.  But either way, I give thanks for each.  They remind me of my importance, but that I'm not "too important."

My new church family deserves a huge thank you!  They received a "new pastor" with open arms.  Yes, we've had our ups and downs, and like any family, we will continue to have those.  But, I can honestly say that I can feel God at work through our Church, and I am honored to serve as your pastor! I am impressed at how you selflessly serve God and others in so many ways.

I want to close by acknowledging my favorite teacher.  I won't mention her name out of privacy.  If you read this and know her, you know who I am talking about.  (You will also know that she'd flip out because I ended the last sentence with a preposition).  She was my High School English Teacher.  She passed away this week after a battle with cancer.  She had been retired, but was not old.  She was more than a teacher, she was a mentor, and dare I say a friend.  She was about 4'6" and weight 90 lbs. if she were soaking wet, but she commanded respect.  Though she could have ruled by fear, she didn't.  She earned respect and showed respect. I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be a teacher, but once I had her, she was the type of teacher I wanted to be.  I hope that in my teaching career I was only half as effective and made even a partial impact that she did.  The world is a better place because she lived, and Heaven is a better place because she is there now.  But, I don't despair because as she always said, "We have miles to go..."

Friends, Readers, Family - "We have Miles to Go..."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tom

War Has Been Abolished

Guess what?  It hasn't worked. At its "best," it has only managed to subdue one group and allow another to dominate.  That is until the subdued group regains some strength and decides to "rise again." What is "it?" WAR!

Let's do a cost-benefit analysis of War.  Let's take World War II as our example.  Everyone likes to use that one as an example.  It's the war that "couldn't be avoided."  It was the "just war." That's what so many people say.

     * First, look at the "Belligerents"(That's the fancy word for the nations that fought):  We had the "Allies" and the "Axis" - Without taking into consideration the smaller nations (and this implies no disrespect to them - it implies that I don't want to type that much - Here are the Belligerents:
          -Allies: USA, Soviet Union, Britain, France, and China (and a host of smaller nations)
          -Axis:  Germany, Japan, Italy (and a host of smaller nations)

     * Death Toll:  Allies: 61 Million (Civilians AND Military) - Axis 12 Million (Civilian And Military)

     * Causes - German invasions of nearly everyone they could invade, and Japanese invasion of everyone they could invade.  The Italians tagged along and did their own invading along the way.  The Europeans began by fighting Hitler's Army, the USA joined the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor (joining both the European and Asian fronts).

     * Results:  The Allies defeated Germany and Italy in Europe in conventional warfare.  The Allies defeated Japan after dropping 2 Nuclear Bombs on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Cost - Benefit Analysis
What the Allies Won vs. What the Allies Lost

Won                                                                          Lost                                                             
Stopped being invaded                                       61 Million People
Revenge                                                             Had to Rebuild Europe and Japan at their expense
Stopped Hitler/Musolini/Hirohito                       Gained Stalin and the Cold War

Analysis - Was it worth it?
1. First of all, it stopped evil dictators - that would be an argument for a "yes" answer.
2. Second of all, it stopped invasions - another "yes"
3. Third, it gave a sense of safety to the world - strike a check in column "yes"
4. BUT, it started the Cold War where Nuclear War became a reality - That's a "no"
5. The US and USSR became the competing superpowers of the world determining the fate of literally every nation - that would be a "yes" for US and USSR, but a "no" for every other nation
6. The Allies got revenge - Depending on your stance on revenge, that would be "yes" or "no"
7. It took 61 Million lives of the ALLIES vs. 12 MILLION of the Axis to win the war - That is very disproportionate - I would say that is a "no"
8. The entire war took the lives of 73 million people - Is ANYTHING worth that many lives - I would say "no"

Were there Alternatives?
The question behind this question is always, "What about Hitler?"  That is a very fair question to ask.

This is where I appeal to the title of this blog post.  "War has been abolished."  Why has war been abolished?" War is abolished because the last sacrificial death that had to be made was that of Christ.  Sure, I can take a bullet for you, push you out of the way of a bus and get hit by that same bus and killed, but all you keep is your earthly life.  You gain nothing else - unless you want to see me die, then you get the pleasure of that too.  By Christ's death and resurrection, humans gain eternal life.  Death has been abolished - or rather, death can be abolished if we choose Christ.  If so, there is no such thing as "life after death," because there is no such thing as death.  There is only "life after life."

By abolishing death, Christ has abolished the need for sacrificial death.  We don't have to die for each other anymore.  Let's take a time out to address some things.
     * I get your fears. Any reading this who are parents or have a child in your life - you would "die" for that child if that would prevent the child from being killed.  I too would do the same.  But, let's not lie to ourselves - all the child would gain is an earthly life, not an eternal life.  The child would have to choose God to gain the eternal life.
     * What about those who don't know God or are of another Religion?  The good news is that we serve a fair and loving God.  I don't have the answer except that it will be a fair and loving judgement.  All people have the chance to know God.  How that works, I have no idea.  All people are God's children.  God will give everyone a chance.
     *  So, soldiers and police and fire fighters are wasting their time?  Not at all.  God gave us this life as a gift. Keeping this life is not sinful.  Saving this life is not sinful.  Stopping those who would take this life is not sinful.  The sin comes in when we think that we can die an atoning death for someone else.  OUR death at most can only give someone more of THIS life - not eternal life.

Is this complicated? Yes.  Do I contradict myself? Yes.  All life, eternal and worldly, is full of contradictions.

Now, what about Hitler?  First of all - when Hitler came to power, there was a Confessing Church movement.  They stood in opposition to Hitler.  Why didn't the "Christians" of Germany listen to them?  The short answer is that people confuse Christianity with Patriotism.  Patriotism is not a bad thing - we should like our nation and be proud of where we live.  But, our ultimate identity is that of a Christian.  The Germans - and mostly the Nazi Party forgot that.

What if a Hitler comes to power? Force is definitely one option to deal with a Hitler.  It is not the only way.  There is also non-violent resistance.  People could have said, "no" to the Nazis.  Yes, they would have faced punishment, but if enough people joined them, I have to wonder if the Nazis would have gotten as far as they did?

Let me propose this question?  Why do citizens fear governments to the point of blind obedience?  Of course, I don't want to get shot or put in prison or tortured.  But, on the other hand, I am not willing to have my Christian Integrity compromised either.  I follow the law to keep the peace.  When the law violates God's law, I have to consider whether it's severe enough to break that law or to go along with it.

Until the rule of Constantine, the earliest Christians were "outlaws."  Just by being Christian, they broke the law by not worshipping the Emperor or the Roman gods.  Many died for this refusal.  Many civilly disobeyed.  Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus in his last days.  Read the Letters of Paul and the persecutions he underwent.  Find the writings of ancient Christians - there are many translated into English and other languages.  They did not wage war on their oppressors - they were civil to them, but refused to compromise their Christian Integrity.

Aren't you just disrespecting soldiers and the military?
I can see where you could come to that conclusion, but no, I'm not.  Let me explain.  First of all, though I am a pacifist, I have the utmost respect for our military and all who serve in any capacity.  I can only speak for American policy (since that is all I know). I believe it is the American duty to serve our Soldiers upon return from service.  From all the soldiers I know, return to civilian life is very difficult. It should be the American Government's duty - that same Government who sent these men and women into very difficult and unspeakable situations which they did valiantly - to now help them adjust to civilian life again. I'm not a soldier, so I don't know what that would look like exactly.  I would assume it would involve counseling where needed, job training where needed, helping them catch up on bills/mortgages until they can find a job.  They served us without question - We owe it to them to serve them without question.  As with any "service to people," the question comes up, "Won't some take advantage of the system?" I answer, "Probably."  But, that happens in ANY human system.  We can't sacrifice what we owe the multitude for a few rotten apples.  And what determines "taking advantage?" Each person is different.  One does not just "get over" combat experiences.  For some, they may be able to function quickly after. For others, it may take a long time - even a life time.

But, back to the point at hand.  This is in no way disrespecting soldiers.  This only puts their service into perspective.  Soldiers defend THIS life, not ETERNAL life.  Soldiers defend an EARTHLY kingdom, not the HEAVENLY kingdom.  I doubt many soldiers would disagree, though I can't speak for them.  The ones I have spoken to agree with me.

I am not calling for the abolishment of the Military. I'm calling for the Abolishment of War.  There will still be evil in this world.  There will still be need to get aid (food/water/etc.) to areas of this world.  The military would make an excellent force to protect the innocent lives of civilians.  I'm not a military strategist - I'll leave that up to the military to determine how that should be done.  This puts the military on a defensive role with strict rules of engagement.  This is not war, this is defense of the innocent.  Instead of "hunting," they would be watching.  No one would have to die without choosing that option.  Only if people violate the military perimeter or attempt to harm innocent people, would lives be in danger.

I realize this is not complete pacifism.  For the theologically trained, I'm coming close to Niebuhr's "Christian Realism" - a doctrine I fully denounce.  I realize I have contradictions.  This is not a perfect plan.  But, it's better than what we have now!

When Was War Abolished
War is ineffective.  It doesn't work.  America has been in Afghanistan for 10 years, and though we have an "exit strategy," the fighting persists.  The Palestinians and Israelis continue to fight since 1948. The Congo continues to be a battle ground.  I could go on.

War only subdues unless an all out genocide is committed.  Even then, unless every last person is killed, revenge is always on the minds of those left behind.

War was abolished when Christ rose from the dead.  Christ died the last meaningful sacrificial death that would ever be needed - He defeated the last enemy - DEATH.

It's time now that we look at Christ's life.  What do his teachings say?  I'll summarize with my own commentary.  It's time for enemies to talk until they can negotiate.  Stop sacrificing your own people in the name of your greedy desires.  Stop sacrificing the innocent people of your enemy who have nothing to do with your war.  Let the innocent people live their lives, Mr. and Ms. Politician! If you can't act like the person you were created to be, then go out and fight yourself - quit sending the young adults of your nation and making them think they have a "duty" while you sit in your air conditioned office and play your political games.  God sees what you are doing.  People see what you are doing.

Quit equating your desires with "God's will." God doesn't like to be mocked. Even if your enemy is wrong, God is big enough to handle the problem.  God has no need for you to "crush" anyone.  God has not made you a "righteous defender" of anything.  If God has said this to you, don't go see a priest, see a psychiatrist.

Just because you're in power doesn't make you right.  If you are fighting to stay in power, just maybe you need to leave.  Your time is over.  Or do you think you are God? I can't judge you, but I would hate to be you on judgment day.  It's not too late to turn.  I'd do it sooner rather than later.

Since the dawning of time, war has simply not worked.  It's taken the lives of millions, and probably billions of people.  What have we gained?

Instead, it's time for a new revolution - one of peace.  You may say it won't work, but the old way hasn't either.  Why not give this one a try? Talk instead of shoot. Understand instead of hate. Protect instead of attack. Give instead of loot. Share instead of steal.

Christian Joy and the Newtown, CT Shooting

I've been silent on the blogosphere when it comes to the Newtown School Shootings for the past few days.  Like almost everyone, I have opinions, but they have been made in haste and not thought through.  I have more questions than answers.

This shooting fell on the week of Advent that we are "supposed to" preach about Joy.  Let's be honest - There is NOTHING joyful about this shooting or ANY shooting or act of violence.  There is nothing Godly about any of this. What happened was an evil act and a demonic act.

When I first learned about the shootings, I was dumbfounded.  I had no words.  I couldn't pray. I didn't even know what to pray for.  What does one ask God for in a case like this? Still, I don't know.  Do we ask for vengeance against the killer? That was the first thing on my mind, but that, too, isn't exactly Godly.  Matthew 7:1-2 says, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ²For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get."  In other words, praying that God holds this killer to a different standard would mean that we would be held to that same standard.  BUT, let me clarify:  It IS NOT judging if we say this is an evil act - that is fact. That is discernment.  It IS NOT judging to say that the murderer acted in an unGodly manner - that again is fact.  Saying we have a vote in his eternal state IS judging.  But, don't fear - God will be fair.  God will not just let this shooter off the hook and say that everything is "ok." Even if God shows mercy, there will be justice.

I've been asked as a pastor, "Why did God let this happen?" Well, that's tough to answer.  First of all, God didn't let it happen if you mean that God controls our every move like children control their dolls or action figures.  God didn't make this happen.  Because God gave us free will, there is the chance that other people will suffer and that we, ourselves will suffer.  Every action has a consequence - good or bad.  The consequence can be mundane - I flip the light switch and the lights come on. Or the consequence can be huge - I choose to drive intoxicated and innocent people are in danger.  That doesn't mean that God let this happen.  I have no doubt that God was working in this shooters heart and mind telling him not to do it; telling him there are other ways to express his anger; telling him there is nothing to gain by doing this.  I'm sure that God put people or circumstances in his way to make this act inconvenient - traffic, phone calls, car problems, something like that.  I'm sure that God did something to try to change his mind.  But, in the end, he chose to act against God.  At the same time, God was present with the victims and others in the school.  God was giving them bravery, God was giving them reminders of what to do in an emergency, God was giving them peace of heart when their last moments came.  God was with the first responders. God gave them the strength to come to a gruesome scene and still be professional and do their duty.  Yes, these first responders are trained to deal with these issues, but in this case, I'm sure emotions took over.  But God helped them through the day and will be with them in the days to come.

So where does Joy come in?  First of all, we need to understand what Joy is.  Joy is not mere laughter and giddiness. Joy is loving God and knowing God loves you.  When you contemplate that one reality, how can you help but be joyful?  Yes, there are dark times! The darkness may last a long time.  But God is with all of us through it all.  God is with the people of Newtown through their upcoming years of grief.  We can be sure of that!

We cannot let our Joy be taken from us.  Actually our Joy cannot be taken, we can only give it away.  We cannot give it to those who would take it. The enemy wants us to live lives of despair and hopelessness. We must live lives of assurance and hope.  

This is not a fairy tale hope.  The same baby of Christmas is the same God-Man of Easter!  Let that Joy forever live in your hearts!
 

I Like Strawberries Too - In Memory of My Grandma

Today, December 14, 2006, marks the 6th Anniversary of my Grandmother's death.  I suppose I express my feelings best by writing.  I won't make her into a saint.  Too often, when someone dies, everyone conveniently forgets their faults and that person becomes next to Jesus in nature.  But at the same time, my Grandma was a special person.  She was everything I could have asked for in a Grandma.

Grandma Ernie (Yes, that was her name - she always hated it - who knows, her dad did run a moonshine still...maybe that had something to do with the name) was the truest form of the matriarch of the family.  She had 6 children. 5 Boys (including my dad) and 1 girl.  She was very possessive of her children.  Even as adults, they were HER children.  Her daughters-in-law and son-in-law had to earn their place in the family.  How did they know they made it?  When Christmas came around, if there was a gift for them instead of for the couple.

Grandma Ernie could cook!  I never remember a meal I didn't like that she made.  Her specialties were fried chicken, and her Turkey/Stuffing/and Mashed Potatoes!  I've never had Mashed Potatoes as good as hers!  What was her secret? I asked a bunch of times.  Her advice? "Beat the hell out of them!"  I've come close, but I still haven't mastered them.

So, why did I call this "I like Strawberries too?" Honestly, I forget the exact story.  Grandma Ernie was hard of hearing.  Someone...my cousin, I think...said something to her, and her response was "I like strawberries too." The conversation had nothing to do with strawberries.  That was the butt of every joke for years to come.

I remember that Grandma had a wild side. At one family reunion, someone broke out the stick on tattoos.  People were putting them on their arms, their necks, their ankles.  When it came to Grandma's turn, next thing I know, she hauls out a boob.  TMI, Grandma, TMI!!!

If guilt trips were real vacations, most of her family (me included) would have travelled the world. She was the queen of the guilt trip!  One day, I decided to do a reverse guilt trip.  She was making me feel guilty about living so far away, so I made an unexpected reversal and tried to make her feel guilty for not keeping in touch.  Well, not to be out done, she started crying.  Well played, Grandma, well played!

Grandma's coffee was probably her trademark.  No one could visit her without partaking in her coffee.  It was the best coffee I've ever had and I can never replicate it! It was also so strong that you could stick a spoon in it and it would stand straight up.  After 2 cups, you were wired the rest of the week.  I won't accuse her of adding Meth, but...

Grandma Ernie was the true model of a homemaker.  There was always the smell of fresh baked bread or pies or cookies.  Her house was always decorated.  And she did this on a small budget. She wasn't a rich person when it came to money, but no one would have known.

Grandma Ernie was everything I could have asked for in a Grandma.  Yes, I got angry with her. Yes, she wasn't perfect. But, she loved her family. She loved her Grandchildren.  What more can a person ask for?