Retired & Thinking

"The definition of marriage remains unchanged " is the lead sentence for the post GA issue of Theology Matters . If anyone wondered why congregations like ours stepped away from the PC(USA) they have no need to look further than this current General Assembly. To think that a Christian body would have to "defend" marriage as a between a man and a woman is like, well like saying a church has to declare that ministers would remain faithful in their marriage [Oh yeah they did that too].  My prayers go out to my sisters and brothers who are trying to remain faithful to the Lord while serving in the PC(USA). Keep on with the good fight and know others are praying for you. Peace, Alan

It's been a long-time since I posted and I only have me to blame for not taking the time. School is over for this year so maybe I'll be able to start this discipline again. More than a few years ago Rev. Harold Kurtz spoke to a group of renewal minded pastors and elders in Cascades Presbytery and told us that changing our ordination standards would harm world mission. Once again his mission minded heart and head was right. The Mizoram Synod in India has decided they don't need to be united with a group who goes, in their words, " against the Biblical truth ". My prayer for my former denomination would be that those who have been redeemed might once more take the helm and guide them back under the authority of God's Word. That those who have fallen victim to the gossip of the ages might once more hear God's Holy Spirit speak to their souls. God's peace on you all as you gather for your General Assembly. Peace, Alan 

It's been a long-time since I posted and I only have me to blame for not taking the time. School is over for this year so maybe I'll be able to start this discipline again. More than a few years ago Rev. Harold Kurtz spoke to a group of renewal minded pastors and elders in Cascades Presbytery and told us that changing our ordination standards would harm world mission. Once again his mission minded heart and head was right. The Mizoram Synod in India has decided they don't need to be united with a group who goes, in their words, " against the Biblical truth ". My prayer for my former denomination would be that those who have been redeemed might once more take the helm and guide them back under the authority of God's Word. That those who have fallen victim to the gossip of the ages might once more hear God's Holy Spirit speak to their souls. God's peace on you all as you gather for your General Assembly. Peace, Alan 

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 ...