Comments for i feast therefore i am

Comment on Reflection on Fort Hood by Marilyn

Marilyn — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:19:56 +0000

Thanks for printing the words that you used during the announcements at OPC. John and I were both moved by your response because it reinforced our feelings. I am glad to have the printed version to use as “talking points” with others.

I am also concerned with the anti-Muslim sentiments being used in the Army and in society. It would be especially hurtful to be denigrated at a time you felt you were serving your country.

Comment on Reflection on Fort Hood by marthame

marthame — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:22:30 +0000

Ben, I agree with you on highlighting that phrase; what has been interesting in my own journey is how that phrase has expanded in meaning. When Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma Federal Building, I probably understood “one of our own” as “a white dude of European descent.” Now, I really do understand it in that broader sense of common humanity. The way I used it in the piece is probably more reflective of how most people use it, in that more limited tribal sense: in this case, an army guy killing other army guys. Oh, and I hope the word “sinny” catches on. Like “skinny” without the “k”.

John, since the fuller story of Maj. Hasan is still emerging, I’ve held back on one thing I’ve been mulling. If this does turn out to be true, that he did have connections with radical clerics, and he really did go into the army with altruistic ideals but felt excluded after 9/11, we would do well as a nation to see how this incident could teach us about how exclusion can lead to radicalization (on both sides of the divide). That’s also a tricky line to walk, though, because there’s a huge difference between contextualizing someone’s actions and justifying them. I can contextualize violence; that doesn’t mean I agree with it. My experience is that the difference between the two is lost on most.

But: the full story is still emerging. And the bottom line for me is that evil is at work in the world. If we try to pretend like we are “holier than thou,” we’re out of touch. Or, as we say often in worship, “If we say we are without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Comment on Reflection on Fort Hood by Ben Ostrowsky

Ben Ostrowsky — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:25:34 +0000

I find it worth remarking upon that we humans use a phrase like “one of our own”.

Whoever it is who destroys lives, whether by economic violence, or by (relatively small-scale) mass murder, or by starting a war, that person is always “one of our own”. We are not permitted to exclude people-who-do-great-evil from “people”. To do so is to presume that we are in a better category of people whose sins are a little less sinny.

Comment on Reflection on Fort Hood by john mclaughlin

john mclaughlin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:31:25 +0000

I hope that you are right & folk do think in terms of betrayal & not religion. I fear not everyone does. The right wing media folk immediately reinforce the ethnic/religious aspect rather than looking for meaning. And this morning on ABC, the news is not good: Major Hasan is suspected now of being in touch with ‘Radical Islamic Clerics’, but still no one expressing any reasons beside assigning labels. I would wish for more introspection(?) in the coverage, but 30 second clips of your typical story don’t allow for it.

Comment on In Memoriam: Tim Cox (1960-2009) by Sandra

Sandra — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:55:08 +0000

Marthame,

I only want to say a huge thanks for all you did and continue to do for Tim, myself and the entire Cox family. I heard your speech carefully during his memorial service. You “captured” him very well. You are a good listener.

I was going to ask you to give me a copy, as I did with the other speakers. I know you were with Tim many times and prayed with us and for us many times. I really and sincerely thank you for all you did. I will continue to come to your church when am in Atlanta.

Sandra

Comment on In Memoriam: Tim Cox (1960-2009) by tiffrpk

tiffrpk — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:05:36 +0000

Marthame, I had the same experience when talking with Tim. I remember one conversation specifically–He asked me what I liked to do in my spare time–I flubbed through my answer because at that point I didn’t “do” anything I liked in my spare time. It was actually this conversation that spurred me to find a hobby and cultivate “spare” time. He had a great listening ear and a gentle soul. And the love he and Sandra had for each other was amazing. I didn’t know him very well, but I was honored for the conversatons and prayers I did have with him and his family.

Comment on Creepy Prayer by BelovedSpear

BelovedSpear — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:48:53 +0000

I was hoping this post would in some way reference Spinal Tap, and was not disappointed.

Comment on Creepy Prayer by Alecia Gray

Alecia Gray — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:39:44 +0000

You got a baker’s dozen answer to your prayer.

Comment on Creepy Prayer by Jeff Chance

Jeff Chance — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:54:37 +0000

I did notice the greater nummber of visitors, especially since I was doing sound and had a good view from the back, as you did from the pulpit. If nothing else, I God is at least letting us know that he he is listening, as He always does. Sometimes I don’t think the Lord necessarily “works in mysterious ways”, as the saying goes. I think He works in OBVIOUS ways–as He sees fit!

Comment on Creepy Prayer by Chris Hagler

Chris Hagler — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:38:43 +0000

Last week while running, I prayed for my daughter to have a wonderful day. College life is full of ups and downs and she had been down for a few days.

That afternoon, she called to tell me that she was having a wonderful day and knew that she was loved.

Now, I’m not sure about answering prayers and I think that God gives us free will for a reason. But, I do know that he listened and I’m so glad that she had a great day.