those sinners!

Church

"Lord, if I thought you were listening, I'd pray for this above all: that my church set up in your name should remain poor, and powerless, and modest. That it should wield no authority except that of love. That it should never cast anyone out. That it should own no property and make no laws. That is should not condemn, but only forgive. That it should be not like a palace with marble walls and polished floors, and guards standing at the door, but like a tree with its roots deep in the soil, that shelters every kind of bird and beast and gives blossom in the spring and shade in hot sun and fruit in the season, and in time gives up its good sound wood for the carpenter; but that sheds many thousands of seeds so that new trees can grow in its place. Does the tree say to the sparrow 'Get out, you don't belong here?' Does the tree say to the hungry man 'This fruit is not for you?' Does the tree test the loyalty of the beasts before it allows them into the shade?"

-Philip Pullman's The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, posted as a comment by Casey McCollum, a reader of this page.

Marcus Borg on the Prodigal--Sunday Meditation

Where love lives. . .

When I reflect on "how I got where I am" today, I quickly think of the very special church of my childhood and my last parish ministry. The Richardson East Church of Christ is that congregation.

As I say, I grew up there.

In something of an unusual development, I also returned to serve as senior minister at the church for 14 years from 1980 until 1994 when I move to Central Dallas Ministries.

I've always had an unusual relationship with "church" in general--more on that later, maybe. But, this church has seemed to always major on acceptance and love, inclusion and high-touch ministry to people in trouble. No, not every member, but certainly the vast majority and almost always the leadership.

On Easter Sunday this year the church experienced what must have been an incredibly inspirational celebration of "lives resurrected." We witness a lot of the same sort of reality in the lives of the people we touch here at CDM. The two settings are very different. The renewed hope and determination to move forward, very much the same.

Take a look at what's been captured on YouTube. As always, reactions are welcomed.

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

We sang this hymn during the memorial service for my good friend Bob Glaze back on February 6. I saved the service bulletin and have thought of these lyrics often since then. Certainly, Bob lived these sentiments.

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior;
There is healing in His blood.

But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more simple,
We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be more loving
In the likeness of our Lord.

[Lyrics: Frederick William Faber]

Amazing Grace

Former slave trader, John Newton wrote the famous spiritual, "Amazing Grace." Possibly, no hymn is more famous or has been performed as many times. This song and especially its origins capture an incredibly important part of our national story, a story that continues to shape our urban centers.

Grace is in short supply in our troubled world. Dr. Bob Biard, a member of the Board of Central Dallas Ministries, sent me this link awhile back.

Here's my counsel: click on the link, sit back and take in the amazing message emerging from this song, its context and its history. It will be more than worth your time.

In the process you will be introduced to an amazing guy named Wintley Phipps, the President of the U. S. Dream Academy, a very special non-profit organization that works with the children of men and women who are in prison in the U. S.

Oh, and be sure and note the amazing power of the music coming from the "black keys."

Take a moment. You will be glad you did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0