A Facist Corporate Wasteland

So those are the words Cindy Sheehan, the face of the anti-war movement, you know the woman who camped outside President Bush's ranch for months, said about the U.S. as she 'resigned', put up the land for sale and returned home to California. She is quite disillusioned by the politics of the left as well as the right, and particularly that the Democrats have caved on many promises to end the war and bring the troops home. She also used phrases like "war machine" and alluded to the fact that as much as people scream about change, unless a large majority actually get off their butts and do something, it all stays the same.

So I read this very subversive little book called "Colossians Remixed" recently. I am still digesting it. It was quite a challenge to the status quo- and done from a solid Biblical base. I've always been frustrated by the fact that with current religion and politics, I have to choose between being pro-life and anti-gun (because somehow those are in different camps)- or I have to choose between Biblical basis with a focus on personal discipleship or social justice with a focus on changing the world for good. If you want to feed the homeless, clothe the naked, make sure the oppressed and migrant workers have a voice and dignity, then you can't also worship with those who want to spread the great news of God's love, call for personal moral accountability, and actually read the Bible. I have always hated that. So I'm either the social justice person in the evangelical circles or the evangelical in the social justice circles, and there's never been a middle ground....a via media for me. I have seen glimpses (St. Peters Jax comes to mind) and I have longed for more.

So this book actually talks about that type of faith. One that captures the imagination, introduces you to the Savior who changes everything when you follow him, calls you to a new life in community that is more than a passing cocktail party, and challenges you to go out and affect change whenever and wherever you can- from changing your lightbulbs to running a soup kitchen. I've picked up some of this in the stuff I'm hearing out of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I want more- to quote Shane Clairborne (again) "To be a people who stop complaining about the church they've experienced and start living the church they dream of."

How does this relate to Cindy Sheehan? Well, she sees the ways in which corporate greed, materialism, wealth, and let's please not forget the end-all descriptor, comfort, have captivated the American mind, nay even the world. A facist corporate wasteland. I mean, how long until church sanctuaries are "Brought to you by..." I mean it happens now- but just in the form of naming buildings after people. America, and the American church by large amount, have complied to feed this "empire of indifference" and "kingdom of comfort". We fight to "preserve the American Way" of choice and freedom- freedom to go be consumers. Its driving me insane. And, much like Cindy Sheehan, I am ready to 'resign' and just give up. Thanks be to God others are not giving up, and continue to push for a different way of doing politics, church, life.

I guess I need to stop complaining and start building. Now if I can find anybody else that is remotely more interested in that than maintaining the level of comfort to which we have all become accustomed. Then we'll be in...business? I hope not.

New motto by Elvis

I've decided my new motto for dealing with church politics- and it is a quote from an Elvis Costello song Red Shoes... "Oh, I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused."

While I am sure I have probably misquoted him, or taken the line out of context, I still adopt it as my background noise to help me negotiate committee meetings and just general news headlines involving my current denominational affiliation. We can always choose our reaction, even when we can't control our circumstances.

My Symphony

I've been digging this poem- thought I'd share:

"To live content with small means; to seek eloquence rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
To be worthy, not respectable and wealthy, not rich;
To study hard, think quietly talk gently, act frankly;
To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with an open heart;
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden, and unconscious grow up through the commonplace.
This is to be my symphony."

-William Henry Channing, 1810-1884

Do we wonder why lots of people in the world hate us?

So, I rail on excess consumption a lot. It is starting to bother me more and more. But here is an item that sort of shows my case in point. This is what a God-fearing "Christian" nation spends its extra money on. It is a toss up for me whether I find this more reprehensible or the carpeted pet steps to get your overweight dog into your gas-guzzling SUV to go for a ride. What does 85% of the world think of when they see this use of money? Is this how we represent a "Christian nation" to the world?

The Pet Stroller from Petsmart.

Here is a link to the whole page with the description that includes "For the pet parent who wants their pet to go out and about with them". Whatever happened to a collar, a leash and their God given four legs (or three for my dog, but still!)?? I'm particularly irked by the great mosquito netting, considering the numbers of children who die from malaria each day for lack of such covering. Yikes.