Mike King

Ambition

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.  Small people always do that, but the really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” Mark Twain

There are some things to think about in this quote.  There is the issue of ambitions.  Are our ambitions self-serving or do they serve a larger cause?  Do our ambitions diminish others and ourselves or do they result in blessing God, others, the world and us?  How do we deal with people who belittle us?  What is our responsibility to those who belittle us with words or action?  How does Jesus’ statement “without me you can do nothing” impact this topic?  How about Jesus’ statement that greater things can be done because the Holy Spirit has come?  We live in a world, which likes to knock down people.  Do you think Martin Luther King Jr. believed he was about great things, even greatness?  Do you think Barack Obama desires and has ambitions for greatness?  Is he wrongly motivated?  What desires for significance does God put in us?  I thank God for people who have encouraged me to really Live, Love and Leave a Legacy.  I want to be all that God designed me to be.  Jesus claims those who will be great in the kingdom of heaven are those who humble themselves as a child (Mt. 18:1-4), who are poor in spirit (Mt. 5:4), who humble themselves instead of exalt themselves (Mt. 23:11-12).  Throw into these thoughts this from Mother Teresa, “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.”  Hmmm, all very interesting.  Any thoughts to add?

Humbled by Mystery

This short commentary by Richard Rohr called Humbled by Mystery was featured on NPR and is worth a listen.

Was Jesus uncomfortable hanging with the marginalized?

The just a thought post I made a couple of days ago led to a comment stream initiated by Daniel, who happens to be my son, who was comfortable and poignant enough to ask an important question.  Of course Tim Samoff always has good things to say.  Then Larry came along and took it to a whole other personal and insightful level...

What, to the slaves, is Fourth of July?

My son Daniel called me last night to read me this quote by Federick Douglass, from a speech entitled:

"What, to the Slaves, is Fourth of July?"

Frederick Douglass gave this speech on July 4th, 1852 to clearly remind Americans that promises made in the Declaration of Independence had not yet been fulfilled for African-American citizens. He had some strong things to say about the responsibility of the church.

"The fact that the church of our country (with fractional exceptions) does not esteem the "fugitive slave law" as a declaration of war against religious liberty implies that the church regards religion simply as a form of worship, an empty ceremony, and not a vital principle, requiring active benevolence, justice, love and good will towards man.  It esteems sacrifice above mercy; psalms-singing above right doing; solemn meetings above practical rightousness.  A worship that can be conducted by persons who refuse to give shelter to the houseless, to give bread to the hungry, clothing to the naked, and who enjoin obedience to a law forbidding these acts of mercy, is a curse, not a blessing to mankind.  The bible addresses all such persons as "scribes, pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise and cummin, and have omittes the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith."

Daniel's comment was "It sounds like Frederick Douglass is involved in Emergent." 

Children's letters to God

This is from a friend of mine (Mike Atkinson) they are letters to God from children, answered by Karen Linden

KIDS' COMMUNIQUÉS TO GOD

1. Dear God,

Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Amanda

Dear Amanda:
   I like that idea.  What do you suggest?  God

2. Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.  Joyce
Dear Joyce:
     I suppose that Dear Santa letter last Christmas was a forgery?  Brothers are better than puppies.  Trust me.  God

3. Dear Mr. God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.  Janet

Dear Janet:
    I'm very sorry about that.  The original design was indestructible but some fool archangel decided his plan was better than mine.  Of course, I could point out that the plan to skateboard over your mother's Volvo was poorly implemented.   God

4. God,
I read the Bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me.   Love Alison

Dear Alison;
   I'm reluctant to interfere with parental training but if you can get them to let you hang out at the Zoo a bit more, you'll figure it out.  God

5. Dear God,

How did you know you were God? Who told you?   Charlene

Dear Charlene;
    You did.  Or, I should say, your ancestors did.  You humans seem to like things to have proper names.  In the course of naming plants and animals, it just seemed like I needed one too.  Unfortunately, your people couldn't agree on just one so they keep proliferating (related to "begetting", look it up.)  God

6. Dear God, is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house?  Anita

Dear Anita;
    If it were, the population up here would be a lot smaller.  But you could try to remember that you aren't required to pick up ALL of your parents bad habits.   God

7. Dear God,

I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.    Nancy

Dear Nancy;
    You're pretty smart for someone you're age.  I hope you remember that when you are older.    God

8. Dear God,
I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. I like walking on water, too.   Glenn

Dear Glenn;
   If it weren't for the "made up" insult, I'd offer to show you how it's done some day.  God

9. Dear God,

My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go?
Love, Dennis

Dear Dennis:
   You ever hear of dinosaurs?  I made 'em.  Grampa is only slightly younger.   God

10. Dear God,

Do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does?   Nathan

Dear Nathan:
   There are lines around the countries??   God

11. Dear God,

Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?    Norma

Dear Norma;
    I thought you could use a laugh.  Just don't ask me about mosquitoes.   God

12. Dear God,

In Bible times, did they really talk that fancy?     Jennifer

Dear Jennifer;
    Nope.   God

13. Dear God,

How come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't do any now?   Billy

Dear Billy;
    I haven't stopped doing them, people have just stopped seeing them.   God

14. Dear God,

Please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.    Peter

Dear Peter;
    I'll see what I can do, but some things you have to learn to handle yourself.  Dennis is probably one of them.   God

15 Dear God,

Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother.    Larry

Dear Larry;
    I gave Cain and Abel their own plantations.  It didn't help.  I'm really glad about you and your brother.  Thanks for the help.    God

16. Dear God,

I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What's up? Don't forget.   Mark

Dear Mark:
   It's coming.  I promise.  Hang in there.  In the meantime, aren't icicles cool?  God

17. Dear God,

My brother told me about how you are born but it just doesn't sound right. What do you say?    Marsha

Dear Marsha;
    I know it sounds odd now, but you'll appreciate it when you're older.   God

18. Dear God,

If you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes.    Barbara

Dear Barbara;
   I love your new shoes.  But I love you more.    God

19. Dear God,

Is Reverend Coe a friend of yours, or do you just know him through the business?   Donny

Dear Donny;
    No one belongs in my business unless they are first my friend.  Tell Reverend Coe I said "hello."    God

20. Dear God,

I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not just saying that because you are already God.    Charles
Dear Charles;
   I exist for letters like yours.  Thank you.     God

21. Dear God,

It is great the way you always get the stars in the right place. Why can't you do that with the moon?     Jeff

Dear Jeff:
    How boring would that be??   God

22. Dear God,

I am doing the best I can. Really !!!!    Frank

Dear Frank;
    Try harder but don't get discouraged!  The world wasn't made in a day!   God

Speak up or Shut up?

When is silence the voice of complicity and when is silence a spiritual discipline of humility?  I admire people who stay positive and hold to the view that they are in such need of grace that it would be preposterous to draw attention to someone else's faults.  I really strive to live this way.  At the same time, I see so much done in "the name of Jesus" that represents a Jesus that I don't recognize.  And please understand that I'm not foolish enough to believe that my view of Jesus, scripture, ecclesiology, etc. has finally "arrived" and is a standard of Orthodoxy.  These "Jesus proclamations" often come in the form of an "image of Jesus" that endorses an individual, church, or organization's political, social, ethical or theological agenda.  It is when these agendas feel idolatrous and destructive to people created in the Imago Dei, that I feel the urge to speak up and criticize the abuse of scripture, Christianity, Jesus, and people.  Right now in my city there is a church (which seems to have a goal to be a mega-church force of the future) run by a pastor, whom the KC Star newspaper has recently called a "Jerry Falwell wannabee." I have witnessed a nearly three decade stream of people trashed by this individual and his various ministries.  In a passionate attempt to keep himself in the local and national media, his behavior has become increasingly bizarre.  This is a church program that speaks out against Hollywood and the entertainment industry but would be seriously amiss for program ideas and would not know how to market themselves without the appearance of the latest media or entertainment star who has something to say about God.  At the same time I do not believe that this pastor is a charlatan to the core (although I may be a bit naive).  And I also know that this church is filled with wonderful people who genuinely love Jesus.  I am just embarrassed that this high profile attempt to be someone important is creating so much harm to biblical, authentic Christianity.  OK, I just got a phone call from Tony Jones and after talking to him for a half hour I have calmed down... so this just may be the only post I will ever make that dances dangerously close to a public, name-calling rant of a brother in ministry who is dangerously close to falling off the deep-end... on the other hand this may just be continued in the near future...