Satire

Pronunciation: 'sa-"tI(-&)r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin satura, satira, perhaps from (lanx) satura dish of mixed ingredients, from feminine of satur well-fed; akin to Latin satis enough -- more at SAD
1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn
2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly
synonym see WIT
(From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

This song is not a rebel song. It was released as a single in 1983 and remains one of U2's most popular protest songs speaking against the violence in their Irish homeland. I posted the lyrics (from U2.com) beneath the video.



Sunday Bloody Sunday

I can't believe the news today
I can't close my eyes and make it go away.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.

Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead-end street.
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Oh, let's go.

And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won?
The trenches dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters
Torn apart.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your bloodshot eyes.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality.
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die.

The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won
On...

Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday..

Mutt begets mutt

I suspect God giggles when I drink from my John Calvin coffee mug.

When I was called to a new ministry position earlier this year, the fact that I’m ordained in a different denomination than the congregation I was called to wasn’t a barrier to the Holy Spirit.
Recently, while explaining to a former Catholic married a former Congregationalist, that though I’m working in a Lutheran church, I’m ordained in the Reformed church, he affirmed me: “The people in the pews move among denominations all the time. It’s about time pastors caught up and did the same.” As my mother reminds me, I was baptized in a Lutheran church. Of course, I was also confirmed Reformed, met my Southern Baptist wife while attending an Episcopal parish, and attended a non-denominational seminary while serving in a Presbyterian congregation. Like others, I’m a denominational mutt.

Don’t get me wrong: I believe denominations are important. Yes, denominations provide a connection to a particular theological and ethnic heritage. But more importantly to me, denominations are the means by which we agree not to be the church by ourselves; they provide the means for accountability. But I believe that God calls me to serve the Church, not any denomination.

The night my youngest daughter was baptized by a Lutheran pastor, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Reformed Church witnesses stood as my daughter’s sponsors. Among the many emotions swirling within me that night was pride that, through the Ecumenical Witness program, my daughter was clearly being baptized into the Christian church, not the Lutheran church. I suspect that, like me, Rebekah will be a denominational mutt. That’s ok with me; it’s more important that as she grows in faith, she’s connected to others who seek JC – Jesus Christ, not John Calvin.

Do not repay evil for evil

The following was the first story in a weekly Sojourners email I get. I had to read it twice before the facts sunk in: the community of the five murdered and five injured girls not only says "we will forgive you" but backs that up with action by establishing funds not only for the grieving, but for the murderer's family as well. What a great example of how we of faith should live in the world.

What was it Jesus said? Something about loving enemies? And Paul had something to say about this too, right?

"We will forgive you."

- unnamed Amish neighbor, while embracing the father of Charles Carl Roberts IV, the gunman who killed five Amish schoolchildren and injured five others before taking his own life Monday morning. (source: Lancaster New Era)

Members of the community have established funds both for the families of those killed and wounded (the Amish do not have health insurance), and for the family of Roberts, who leaves behind a wife and two young children. Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service are also coordinating support for those affected.

Pick yourself up off the ground!

Just a week bit of humor from our household.