Retired & Thinking

Who 'dat? We dat! In the interest of full-disclosure, I am a  SF 49er and Giants [baseball] fan. Unashamedly and since I was a little kid there was nothing greater than a trip to Kezar and watch Y.A. Tittle play football, or to The Stick and watch Mays, McCovey and the Alou boys.  Having gotten that out of the way CNN did a good job of explaining why Tim Tebow is all the rage. The best thing about the 'other' game today, Saturday, is that we won't have to face Denver. Peace, Alan

Kenton has a long history of working with those who are resource challenged. A great deal of this has been overseas on mission fields from Ethiopia to the Sudan. There have been forays into local work as well from one week trips to other communities to Kenton's involvement with founding Portland Organizing Project in the early 90's. The last few years we've tried to become more one-to-one in our approach. We have sponsored children and families through Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree and have made and distributed lunches to about 75 homeless people once every couple of months. We've also invited the pastor of Knowing Me ministries to speak at our church at various times. I mention all of this so that you might take five minutes and read this link about mercy ministries . It is well thought out and his points at the end are worth printing out and going over at every mission committee you have. Peace, Alan

My better .9 has been officially unemployed since April. It may be hard to imagine an RN not being able to find work and I'm sure her 'experience' and the fact she was the top of the pay-scale for her prior employer had nothing to do with it. But she has a job starting September 19. Among the changes for her is a new company with different ways of doing things and for the first time in her professional life she'll have to commute to work more than 5 miles. I mention this because since May of 2010, and the death of my mother, our life has been one big change after another. As we all know change is not always positive. And around our area are many people facing changes that are difficult. Marriages are ending, loved ones have possible fatal cancer, schools are in upheaval, jobs aren't there, and cars aren't running. Anyone older than 20 have had such things happen. Our experience through this [I wish I could say I was always upbeat and positive about God's...

Way back in the mid-90's HR Reverend Harold Kurtz met with a group of conservative pastors before the Presbytery of the Cascade's meeting. We were in Central Church, Eugene and it was following the General Assembly meeting. He simply told the group how he'd been at General Assembly and "everything changed". There was no removal of the 'authoritative interpretations' or repeal of the 'fidelity and chastity' clause. What he meant was that the place of the PC(USA) in the life of the world-wide Church had shifted. A year or so previously he told our church, his prior congregation , that "nothing had changed." When I asked him what caused this shift he told the group that the PC(USA) was not willing to listen to the vast history of the church in the rest of the world. He was right as the Presbyterian Church in Mexico has proven. At least the PC(USA) can take comfort in knowing that they know the real revelation of God... What did they ...

Hat tip to Man of Depravity' s recent Friday post but I felt the article dealing with Christian themes within Deathly Hallows 2 needed to be read. Excellent article if you've not seen the movie or have no plans to see the movie. Consider that a SPOILER ALERT . Read and enjoy De-Theologizing Harry . Had that link wrong... Thanks R.C . Peace Alan

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church wrapped up there General Assembly this past week. Below is a video on their World Outreach . Watch and enjoy. Peace, Alan

The Presbytery of Twin Cities became the vote to push the PCUSA's overture over the top. The Book of Order will now read, Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates. A couple of obvious changes for my former denomination will be:  Self-avowed practicing homosexual persons will now be openly and proudly ordained in congregations and presbyteries....