Theme Today: July 4th, Why I'm proud to be an American
Readings:
Ezekiel 2, 2-5 Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels.
Psalm 123, Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
2 Corinthians 12, 7-10, A thorn in the flesh was given to me.
Mark 6, 1-6, A prophet is not without honor except in his native place.
Emma says, "Welcome in, Everybody, and meet my friend, Teddy, my dad's old special friend."
Ezekiel observations:
Who: Ezekiel is one of the Big 3 prophets. Why? 48 chapters. The other 2: Isaiah & Jeremiah. These 3 have lots of chapters & material.
Ezekiel was born into the priest class. He later was considered a prophet. He got The Call from God. When he was about 25 he was swept up in the Babylonian captivity, around 590.
When: It covers the period of the Captivity, 600-550 before Christ, which Ezekiel lived personally. But the work is composed toward the end of the Captivity, around 550. This is Ezekiel’s material, but it has been saved and edited by his fellow priests.
The special magic lady of our neighborhood who puts together our July 4th parade and party every year, Patty Cody. It is also her birthday. Her helpers Aviana, The Queen Mother, and Larry.
Message:
- Ezekiel criticises the people and warns them that their bad ways will be punished, for example, by being defeated and led into slavery and the Captivity.
- He promises comfort and a brighter future for the captive people, especially envisioning a restored temple (which then lasted until when? The year 70, when the Romans finally destroyed the temple & the priestly cast ceased to function, to this day).
- An amusing vision: The Dry Bones, chapter 37.
Today’s selection: Ezekiel gets The Call or invitation from God to go tell the Israelite people that God sees what is going on. Which means, tell them they are behaving horribly and they will pay dearly for their misbehavior.
Happy 4th of July and welcome to our party.
2 Corinthians observations
1. This second letter to Corinth is often called the severe or tearful letter. Paul was upset with the Corinth, Greece community because of what he thought were false prophets undermining his authority. These people could have simply been people who disagreed with him. At points you can almost hear Paul playing his violin & singing 'Poor Paul.'
2. He talks here about a thorn in his flesh. So, what is that? People have speculated for centuries. Could it have been he was OCD (obsessive compulsive), bi-polar (mood swings from manic & dramatic to depressed), epilepsy, or something else? Is there evidence in his writing for any of this? Maybe. No way to really diagnose. The patient has been dead for a few years.
Sources: Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study Bible, St. Louis U. Liturgy Studies, Wikipedia
Will somebody decorate my bike like that for Iowa?
July 4th : Why I am happy to be an American
One of the nice things about being 75 is that I find myself looking back over the years and counting the special blessings of my life. This 4th of July week I it struck me that of my 75 years I had the privilege of living in East Africa for about 10 of those years. While I was often critical of American foreign policies, I was happy to be an American.
Why am I happy to be an American? I have an East African story and two small contemporary stories.
Engines are warming up. Patriotic dogs welcomed.
When I lived in East Africa I based out of Tanzania. I gave seminars and retreats also to priests and nuns living in Kenya and in Uganda. This was the time of Idi Amin, a rather crazy tyrant who resided in Kampala, the capital.
One time my team & I had a program, probably a month long program in Uganda. We were just down a dilapidated two lane, main highway going west from Kampala to the most western town, Mbarara. There was a center run by some sisters on the south side of this highway. We had probably 20 participants.
Who's having more fun here, Dad or Kids?
I used to run every day. When I ran on the road I was in Idi Amin territory with occasional trucks passing with his soldiers. When I returned to the center I was in the rebels’ territory. The State dept forbade Americans from entering Uganda because of Idi Amin. But in we went, anyway.
I never had any trouble with the soldiers on the road and, certainly no trouble with the rebels in the forests behind the center.
Away we go, just follow the fire truck.
My one trouble came when I was returning to Kenya & Nairobi, the capital. I was at the border, Uganda side. I went up to a Ugandan soldier at a low desk, showed him my passport, and made a mistake. I spoke Swahili. The guy went off. I thought I was going to jail. Why? Swahili was the language of Tanzania and Kenya, both against Idi Amin.
I remember getting through, catching a country taxi into Nairobi, and getting out in the middle of the town to see the American flag flying over the embassy.
Larry's favorite toy, and you should hear it.
Seeing the flag and what it stood for was like seeing a friend in a foreign land. I would see it occasionally in Nairobi and in the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam (which means harbor of peace in Arabic).
That was then. This past week two special events took place.
Another favorite toy, especially for the kids, but perhaps for a few big kids, too.
Monday Rosemary & I set out on the White Rock Creek Trail to go ride our bikes around White Rock. Almost at the end of the trial, the south end, just before it goes under Northwest Highway, Rosemary hit a pot hole and had two blow outs. Both tires at the same time. A very unusual event.
I came along and we determined that I should ride back to Royal Lane, get the car, and pick her up a point about half way back on the trail. She would walk the bike back.
Patriotic golf , Anybody?
When I picked her up, she said she was touched. People kept passing her. 11 men and 5 women. Of those people 7 men and 4 women asked if they could help her. One woman even asked Rosemary if she would like her to tow Rosemary’s bike. I, too, was touched.
Finally, yesterday morning, July 4th. We have an annual parade and picnic every July 4th morning. Preston Hollow elementary school yard is the scene. A fire truck leads the parade and police cars are scattered here and there. The parade circles around the neighborhood, and returns to the school, where there is a petting zoo, face painting, snow cones, a DJ with patriotic music, and refreshments provided by The Queen Mother. Guess what the biggest treat is: donut holes.
It is always embarrassing to run into a former Jesuit student. He knows too much.
The kids are beautiful, the families are beautiful, and the lady who coordinates all of it is The Best.
Why are you happy to be American?