Renee Bondi

Heard this woman sing at a Banquet a few months ago. Mid Forties, vibrant, talented, mother of a teen age boy, loving husband....and a quadraplegic. She was a popular choir leader at a High School in San Clemente, months from her wedding when she sleep walked, and dove off the end of her bed while dreaming she was at a swimming pool, and woke up paralyzed.

The irony of such a thing is stunning. The awesomeness of such a thing is that her fiance did not leave her, they had a child naturally while unable to feel anything from the shoulders down. She continues to sing around the country and share her testimony of going forward with what she had left. Imagine singing when your diaphram no longer works as it should.

She is an inspiration to handicapped people every where and to normal people as well. Just thinking about the blessing of a body that moves today.

Does the end justify the means?

Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite National Park

This has been an intramural Christian discussion going on forever. Was it OK to lie during the war to protect innocent lives? Can you achieve peace and end violence by practicing violence for a good purpose?

It stood out so clearly last week, assuming I heard all this correctly, when Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor and reported that Romney had not paid any taxes for a decade.

When proven to be untrue, Reids reply was, "Well he did'nt win, did he? Which was a way of saying that his false report accomplished the desired ends and therefore from his perspective, was the right thing to do.

Someone told me that I slandered the President from the pulpit a few years ago. I have no memory of it, and will apologize to the one who told me I did this, but it raises a question of speaking the truth, or expressing an opinion or speaking about politics from the pulpit. I am hearing that preachers are failing the culture and the church by not speaking out on the issues of violence against Christians and the harassment of conservatives by liberals and gay activists.

What is free speech, what is offensive speech? Do I want to be the type of preacher always speaking about what we are against rather than what we are for?

I know this, slander, to me, involves a deliberate attempt to slur a personality or statement. Conservatives often question the motives and actions of any President and that is part of our free society. I hope and try not to mix my own values and politics from the pulpit and hope I did not cross the line then or now, or in the future. Still do not want to be the kind of preacher who panders to political persuasion from either side of the aisle.

Monday after Easter

In my office with a few short term goals....spring cleaning the office, finishing the taxes.

Our service was wonderful with brass quintet and double choir. Sermon was hopeful and about resurrection. Now to summer, the loss of our winter visitors, and relaxing schedule in May, June, July.

On another note, I bought my own copy of Interstellar, I was finally able to understand the muffled dialogue, and still love a science fiction story that tried to keep real possibility in the off planet reality. The idea of gravity being something that could be defeated without speed and uplift, and the idea that time and speed and gravity are all interrelated as well. Awesome God.

Thoughts on Easter

Laura took an I phone shot of a park on the big Island.

Did Jesus taste death for everyone? For the elect only, for those who respond to the offer? A person professes faith, has a reasonably moral life but has no deep dedication or sacrifice to any thing other than minimal support of charity and church and fairly regular attendance. Spends most of his time and money on hobbies and TV.

Another person has been addicted to various substances all there life, wasting money and relationships, but toward the end professes belief.

Another person professes faith at a very young age but education ends all church connections. He speaks warmly of personal faith and his success in business and integrity provide jobs for hundreds, and charitable contributions through business for thousands.

How does God sort all this out? What kind of belief is saving believe?

What kind of life following profession is demanded?

What type of faith and belief qualifies for heavenly bliss or sends a person to eternal conscious torment?
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Listen to Paul's big gospel, the Adam/Christ gospel. and Have a Glorious Easter, He is way ahead of us in this life and the life to come.

Thoughts on Holy Days

Going to Easter Service in Oneonta New York 1959?

The Churches are trying hard to get visitors this weekend, special Easter events and attractions. They hope they will stick. TV has a plethora of Bible based dramas all updated and contemporary to attract modern audiences, which kinds of worries me in the same way as attractional methods in the mega churches. Come hear Quarterback Cool Guy from the Poukipsie Buffalos Share His powerful testimony.

The more I have walked in the finished work of grace, the less I feel like making one day more special, or finding a special way to show I love God. I feel His presence in me and around me and in everyone through the image of God in every child of Adam, and I do not call that image "free will". I do not feel any emotional appeal will get good ole free will off his duff and get people back into the pews.

Most Christans do, and good fortune to you this holy weekend.

I hope and believe that the truth that His decision for humanity has more power than my decision for God. That good news is already written but blunted by the church who 1450 years ago began to get this good news backward....we are not redeemed by obedience or belief first in order to be redeemed second. Jesus faith and obedience is the only one that counts.

Resurrection today, tomorrow, forever.

God is fond of yellow

Saw this at Leisure World yesterday. More brilliant than you see in the picture.

I try every year but I find early April to be a downer. For some reason when spring is springing and the heart should be light there always seems to be something about tax time that pulls me into a funk. I should be filled with Easter Joy but there is a lot going on that's tough.

My Romanian Friend pays 24 percent income tax and 17 percent consumer goods tax. God help those poor nations trying to rise up with that burden.

The desert is beautiful this time of year, our backyard palo verde is about to burst into yellow blossoms. I will find joy again.

On another note, facebook has been publishing old posts without permission, and a bunch of people thought I was in the hospital again from a post from last september. This is not cute facebook. Are you going to post an old one from my friend who died last month if they keep his page open for a few more months? That would be creepy?

One sows, another reaps?

Took a new friend to see the area in Queen Creek where I served from 95-2002. We had a 80 seat quanset hut, a small three bedroom home and a covered picnic area and started with 50 people...today there are three new buildings, and worship seating for 600. They have come a long way and my role in getting that first new building built was meaningful to me.

Then we ate lunch at San Tan Flats, one of those western theme places with a huge outdoor dining and dancing area. Fun.