Reverential Musings

I had so much fun writing this for CPE I thought I'd share it with you. 


As long as I can recall, I've had "authority issues."It was no surprise to receive word from the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist, and that they wanted me to work on issues of authority.Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of their request was that they perceived me as not "claiming my authority."I did not receive instructions about needing to respect their authority, rather I needed assistance in learning to claim and own my very own authority as a pastor.I came to CPE prepared to further explore my "authority issues."
The word, authority, originally has to do with the work of an author or master of some trade/education.The word, author, needs some of its own exegetical work.According to the Online Etymology Dictionary (crafted by Douglas Harper)[1] an author is one who fathers or masters a particular subject or thing and even "…

Facebook is lit up with the news of Osama Bin Laden's death.  The news shows US Americans cheering, singing, and shouting in joy about his death.
I am sickened by our response.

I remember the outcries and the pain that came from watching videos of Al Queda's people cheering with joy at our pain and the loss of US Americans' lives on Sept. 11th.  I can't help but think about how our cries mimic theirs.  Both filled with hate and anguish, pain and punishment, revenge and terror.  Truly we are not so different.

Do we really believe this will be the end of Al Queda?  Do we really believe that this will somehow end the hate of the terrorists?  Do we really believe that we in the USA are now safer?

Even if his death somehow made us safer, our response that will be broadcast across the globe will not.  Won't the world wonder how we can cheer at the death of another human being?  Yes, Osama Bin Laden was an evil and horrible man  but shall we cheer his death?

Someone I lov…