On a
personal note, as I look over the 55 years of being a Christian, I keep
learning what it means to live with Jesus and to view the world with Jesus.
Jesus keeps teaching me about love.
Love means that something matters, moving against our nagging suspicion that
nothing matters. In fact, a moral sickness or malady is to move toward apathy
and isolation. Love heals that sickness. When we love, we are in tune with, for
God is love. Love binds Father, Son, and Spirit, with the Spirit inviting us to
participate in this love. Prayer is an expression of love to God and neighbor.
Yes, God loves this world, and we join God in that love.
However, today, I focus on sharing
a bit about this year.
I maintain
a few blogs. I will mention them and the ones that received the most views. One
is on Karl Barth (all), another with Wolfhart Pannenberg (Moltmann &
Pannenberg dialogues and Chapter 15), another on my sermons (Colossians 1:1-14,
Luke 15, Luke 19:28-40), and another that simply contains my ponderings
(Presidential election, Star Trek). I invite you to become a member and make
comments.
One of the
studies done at Cross~Wind that was particularly meaningful to me was the Jesus
Creed. People still refer to the powerful quality of that congregational study.
It has re-focused my understanding of the heart of the teaching of Jesus.
I note that
much of my preaching was from Luke-Acts, plus a series on Galatians,
Colossians, and Pastoral Epistles.
The
Wesleyan Covenant Association was a wonderful event. I felt myself at home in
this classic expression of Christian belief and life.
I enjoyed
the Advent and Christmas season at Cross~Wind, as we focused on the traditional
words of Hope, peace, joy, and love with the Advent Prayer Tree. It was
particularly powerful for me to share my prayer this year regarding each of
these words. The spirit of our Christmas Eve service and even Christmas Day was
a wonderful celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Triple S
has continued to be a joy. We studied the Old Testament history through the
lens of the Ten Commandments. We then studied the General Epistles, minus the
letters of John, which we studied the previous year. This group has been such a
blessing in my life at Cross~Wind. Unfortunately, the Fall has seen a reduction
in numbers due to the health of many of its members. These are such dear
persons to the group and to the church.
Upward Soccer
was wonderful this year, as always. Our carnival at the end was a rousing
success.
I officiated
at five funerals this year and one wedding.
I have
continued my involvement in the Annual Conference by Our Life Together, Annual
Conference, Clergy Covenant Renewal, and the District Committee on Ministry.
I have
continued my reading of Presidential biography. I have gotten up to half way
through Lincoln. I found out why the period leading up to the Civil War is the “Jackson
Era.” Every president had a direct connection to Andrew Jackson, and that
connection is largely why America could not resolve the slavery issue
peacefully. I am writing my reflections on these presidents as I read the
biography.
In other
reading, Nudge by Richard Thaler and
Cass Sunstein, had an interesting way of presenting options while maintaining
freedom. Philip Clayton, Transforming
Christian Theology. For Church and Society was good on worldviews. David
Brooks, The Road t Character, had
some good insights.
My reading
groups this year have been on my two favorite theologians, Karl Barth and
Wolfhart Pannenberg. It has been like heaven. These two groups have also
brought me to reflect upon Moltmann and Bultmann in a new way. It has led to
refining my two major documents, on Karl Barth and Church Dogmatics and the
other that I presently call George World View. David Congdon, The Mission of Demythologizing, has been
particularly helpful in giving a re-appraisal of the thought of Bultmann. He also
wrote The God Who Saves, which is a
sketch of a dialectical theology rooted in Bultmann rather than Barth. It was
helpful to read a young theologian trying to recover a form of theology that
most of us put behind us.
Suzanne and
I had the best vacation ever at Sebring, FL, which became home base for trips
to Siesta Key, Port St. Lucy, and Dunedin. Randy, Suzanne’s son, had a heart
attack this year. This led to him and his wife staying with us a few months. Tim,
Suzanne’s other son, continues to live with us. Both young men are truckers. Lynn and Cindy came for a few days. It was a joy to have them with us! Michael and David are in Indianapolis. David and Kari, with children Nia, Henry Owen, and Edith Annalyn, seem to be doing well. We had a nice time celebrating birthdays at the beginning of December.
The big
news of the year was the election of Donald Trump. I will not extend my
political thoughts here. I tuned out of politics on TV or radio. I kept up with
some articles that I receive. Suzanne was excited about Trump. I have not been.
As a political conservative, his personal offensiveness, my personal dislike of
him, and my concern for the liberal quality of his policies, meant I was not
enthusiastic about this election. I was an observer rather than participant. I am
glad for the depth of the GOP victory, not only at the national level, but also
at the state level. In fact, the focus on Hillary and Donald has masked the
depth of Democrat defeat. I am not tolerant of people who think of either
America or conservatives as racist. I have such persons in my immediate family,
and the hatred exhibited toward America and Trump voters is simply not
acceptable behavior in a republic. As for me, given the cabinet choices thus
far, I remain hopeful. For some of my friends, the opposite is the case. In either
case, I hope we can pray for the political leadership of this country, the
state, and local government.
On the
self-care side of things, I continue to exercise faithfully, mostly with P90x2
exercises, the total gym, and an occasional visit to Anytime Fitness. I continue
to have a vegie/fruit drink of my concoction for breakfast. Of course, the two
reading groups, preparation for sermons and Bible study, keep my mind active.
For entertainment,
we went to Mary Poppins production at McHale. We made our yearly pilgrimage to
the fair. We have a theater a couple blocks away that has been very good for
this community. We support it well. We also watch Netflix. To give an idea of
some of the things we have liked this year, hear is a list.
The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials Cinderella
Uncanny Ant-Man
The Martian The
Returned Season 1
Game of Thrones Alive
Bridge of Spies Room
Agatha Christie’s Poirot S.W.A.T.
Elizabeth Fear
the Walking Dead Season 1
Freedom Spotlight
The Big Short The
Messengers Season 1
Begin Again Ashby
Captain America: Civil War Nikita
Season 4
Falling Skies Stranger
Things
Joy Limitless
Season 1
Deepwater Horizon The
Jungle Book
Batman vs Superman Jack
Reacher: Never Go Back
Marcella Season 1 Scream
Season 2
Unexpected Central
Intelligence
Containment Season 2 Glitch
Arrow Season 3 Zootopia
Allied Hacksaw Ridge
Arrival iZombie
The 100 Season 3 Lucky
Number Slevin
Compulsion Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Passengers Borgia,
Season One
Medici Season 1 The
Crown Season 1
The Flash, Season 2 Good
Witch Season 1
Intruder Nanny
McPhee
Gotham, Season 2 Dark
Matter Season 2
Longmire Season 5 Supernatural
Season 11
Bones Season 11 The
Walking Dead Season 6
The Ranch Part 2 Beauty
& the Beast Season 4
The Blacklist Season
3 Midsomer
Murders Series 18
Once Upon a Time Season 5 Criminal
Minds Season 11
Between Season 2 Revenge
Season 4
ZNation season 2 Bloodline Season 2
Daredevil Season 2 Flashpoint
Season 5
Bates Motel Season 3 The
Following Season 3
Helix season 2 Person of Interest Season
Moana Deadpool
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