On Sunday, August 31, I will be using the best-selling book, The Shack, as the basis for my sermon. It's a book that has seemingly come out of nowhere to become, in many ways, a sensation. Amazingly, it's the story of God--a picture of the Trinity and how the Trinity works in relationship and in relationship with us and the world.
Because it has been receiving so much buzz I thought it would be important to talk about it in worship. It's not that the book is controversial, like, say, The DaVinci Code, but it is a book that seems to be shaping the God-views of many people. In that sense it's important to evaluate it, as we should with everything we read, Christian and non-Christian, in the light of Scripture.
But rather than doing that in my message, I want to use the book as a springboard for dealing with one of the ultimate human conditions, suffering. That was really the through line of the book.
Having said that, I want to offer 3 links on this blog for those interested in digging deeper into The Shack and how it's understanding of the Trinity lines up with Scripture. I'll then follow up with a couple of broad-stroke impressions I had of the book.
To truly appreciate The Shack it's important to meet the author.
For those interested in a balanced critique of the book, I recommend Ben Witherington's blog (I really like this guy).
Another good response comes from Christianity Today.
A few personal impressions:
I appreciated much of what The Shack has to say. I thought in many ways the twist on God the Father--i.e., Papa, revealed as a Black Woman for most of the book, was very effective. It helped remind us that God is neither male nor female and yet chose to use Father as the primary way of revealing "himself" to us. For many, the use of Papa will help make more real the affectionate term Jesus invites us to use when addressing God--Abba (daddy).
I found the conversations about suffering and the many responses to be helpful and Bible-based.
I think that for many the appeal of the book is/will be the loving, relational, gracious view of God/the Trinity. All too often God is portrayed as a mean-spirited, judgmental being; unapproachable and quite frankly not one we'd want to approach. Papa/Jesus/the Spirit, in The Shack, is the gracious God Jesus reveals to us.
I also appreciate the fact that the story allows us as humans to ask God the questions we really want to ask. To paraphrase some of the critiques of the book, when the author gets it right, he really gets is right. When he gets it wrong (and there are times he gets is wrong) he really gets it wrong. Most disappointing to me was the very negative tone Papa (God) takes toward the church. The Scriptures are clear that God loves the church. He sees it as his bride. While some may argue that the church and organized religion are not the same, from the early days of the church on there was always an organized facet to it. And it was always imperfect. And yet, it is the vehicle through which God brings his grace to the world. And what better way to demonstrate true grace than through a grace-needy church.
While I appreciate the graciousness of the presentation of God, for me, and this will not be politically-correct, I found God to be a bit too effeminate. And this is not only because Papa, for a time, is portrayed as a black woman. The way the Trinity related demonstrated the more stereotypical feminine ways of relating. For example, Jesus kissing Papa, now a man, on the lips, etc, is not the way guys normally express relationships. In fact, at one point in the book, God comes close to saying that the way women relate is better than the way men relate. The book suggests that if women ran the world we wouldn't have war, violence, etc. Granted, men tend to be more aggressive, but lets not forget the numbers of women who commit violent crimes. God created us male and female. Both ways of relating--male and female, are his gifts full of potential and goodness and full of evil and abuse. I can't really see the average football addicted, beer guzzling guy relating to the way the Trinity is portrayed in this book. But perhaps it's just me.
Jesus, to me, seems like a nice guy. But a bit too nice. I understand the need to break the mean-spirited God image many have, but to make Jesus so nice misses the fact that this is the one who cast out demons, who at times said/did some very challenging things (calling Peter Satan, condemning the actions of the Pharisees, driving crooks out of the temple with a whip). Jesus is far more glorious and complex and dangerous than simply being a nice guy. He's bold. He's reckless. His love creates tsunamis wherever he goes.
I personally find Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia to be a far better expression of Jesus--far more complex, multi-faceted. On the one hand the children are drawn to him--his love, his grace. On the other hand, there is also something awe-inspiring about him that at times creates fear in them--not a fear that keeps them away, but that opens their eyes to how beyond them he is--and this is a good thing. Aslan is described as not being safe, but being good; as being un-tameable. But underlying the fact that Aslan is powerful (and we need a powerful God) he is also loving, gentle, and gracious.
Finally, here is the one danger, if I may call it that, of this book. When the DaVinci Code came out, it caused all kinds of problems because, though it was fiction, it presented its case, so to speak, with facts. It used real places. It used real events. And through fiction, tried to say that this is the truth--Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene. In the end, Christians and non-Christians alike had a hard time separating fiction from non-fiction (or, in the case of the DaVinci Code, lots of twisting of "facts" and turning them into truths).
A similar challenge faces us with this book. In this book, God speaks again and again. The whole book is a conversation between Mack and God. It would be easy to be lulled into believing that what "God" says in this book is what God really says. We need to remember that this is a book of fiction. This is one man's interpretation of what he thinks God might say in response to certain questions. While most of the answers are spot on, and some are way off base, we should take none of these statements as the actual words of God. They must all be weighed in light of Scripture. This book is not the truth. It is one man's interpretation of the truth as revealed in Scriptures and through Jesus.
Again, overall a very good discussion of important questions. Many, many good answers. Let's just make sure we always evaluate what anyone says about God in light of Scripture and in light of Jesus, including reviews of The Shack by guys who write on recklessgrace.blogspot.com.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
My Greatest Moral Failure
While on our cruise to Alaska we were able to get to TV stations--Fox News and CNN. So I was able to see the Rick Warren town hall meetings he held with Barack Obama and John McCain.
I thought Rick did a great job. The program was very interesting on many levels. It gave some good insights into the two candidates.
One of the questions Rick asked was this: What is your greatest moral failure?
Let me have a bit of fun with Rick on this one for a moment. I've known Rick for years, not on a close friendship level but on a friendly colleague level. We've shared a couple of meals together. This, by the way, was years ago.
Anyway, Rick is as genuinely smart and fun and caring as he comes across on TV. From my experiences with him, there isn't a condemning bone in him. That's not to say he doesn't stand up against what's wrong--his commitment to Rwanda is a great example of righting an injustice--but it is to say that he's always been a gospel person. His big motto for preaching--Preach about what Jesus is for, not about what he's against. But, and here I'm tongue in cheek, kind of, he is a Southern Baptist. And the moral failure question made me laugh. It sounded so stereotypically Baptist to me. Must be my preconceived notion that our baptist brothers and sisters are always probing us about sin.
Perhaps a better question--what was your most significant experience of grace? That can often get at moral failure as well.
That aside, you could hear the audience take in their breath as the question was put to each candidate, waiting to hear some deep dark secret life revealed.
How would you answer that question? Is it anyone's business?
McCain talked briefly of the failure of his first marriage. Obama reiterated the struggles he had as a teen, using drugs for a period of time. Big stuff, in a way. But safe answers as we already knew them. I don't think either of them, if there is a skeleton in the closet, was going to admit to it at that moment.
The point is, we were all waiting for a big, John Edwards type confession. I cheated on my wife. Or I beat my kids. Or I'm addicted to pornography. Because moral failure, after all, has to be big.
While riding my bike today I was thinking about that question. (Why? I don't know. Odd question to think about in the beauty of the early morning.) How would I answer it?: I remembered a time when I thought about skipping Sunday school. Sometimes I eat too much dark chocolate. I really dislike Packer's Fans. I one time crossed party lines and voted for someone not of my political party. But no real big moral failures (at least that I'll put in writing.) And if I had answered the question that way, in that forum, I would have probably been accused of lying, or holding back, or of being un-relateable to the normal every day person, etc, by the press or other critics. Because, again, moral failure has to be something big.
But how about this for a confession:
I have far too often passed by people who needed my help because I was too busy, or didn't want to be bothered.
I have been far to critical of people throughout my life.
I have said things, mean things, about people behind their backs (including some of you! :))
I have abused the planet.
I have ignored the poor.
I have spent my God-given resources all too often on selfish, frivolous things.
Again and again I have not reflected the image of God.
In small ways every day I commit some kind of moral failure.
And it's those small acts of moral failure that can be most damning. Because if we continue to do them with little thought, we begin to lose our souls. We lose our humanity.
Just look at the world around us. The bitter arguments we have over politics, and usually about politics that don't matter like who's more like Paris Hilton or who's more like George Bush.
Look at the way we allow the genocide in Darfur to continue.
Look at the ways in which we ignore the needs of the poor.
Look at the way we gossip and gripe.
Little acts of moral failure become a habit that de-humanizes us all.
I'm guilty of those acts every day. A big moral failure I can eventually deal with and fix--as painful as it might be. It's the little ones that are so difficult to get at moment by moment.
But...and it's a big but...there's grace. There's the cross. There's Jesus. There's a second chance. There's restoration. There's the power to repent and live in the light of grace. There's transforming forgiveness. There is God--who through the grace of Jesus makes me human again.
I thought Rick did a great job. The program was very interesting on many levels. It gave some good insights into the two candidates.
One of the questions Rick asked was this: What is your greatest moral failure?
Let me have a bit of fun with Rick on this one for a moment. I've known Rick for years, not on a close friendship level but on a friendly colleague level. We've shared a couple of meals together. This, by the way, was years ago.
Anyway, Rick is as genuinely smart and fun and caring as he comes across on TV. From my experiences with him, there isn't a condemning bone in him. That's not to say he doesn't stand up against what's wrong--his commitment to Rwanda is a great example of righting an injustice--but it is to say that he's always been a gospel person. His big motto for preaching--Preach about what Jesus is for, not about what he's against. But, and here I'm tongue in cheek, kind of, he is a Southern Baptist. And the moral failure question made me laugh. It sounded so stereotypically Baptist to me. Must be my preconceived notion that our baptist brothers and sisters are always probing us about sin.
Perhaps a better question--what was your most significant experience of grace? That can often get at moral failure as well.
That aside, you could hear the audience take in their breath as the question was put to each candidate, waiting to hear some deep dark secret life revealed.
How would you answer that question? Is it anyone's business?
McCain talked briefly of the failure of his first marriage. Obama reiterated the struggles he had as a teen, using drugs for a period of time. Big stuff, in a way. But safe answers as we already knew them. I don't think either of them, if there is a skeleton in the closet, was going to admit to it at that moment.
The point is, we were all waiting for a big, John Edwards type confession. I cheated on my wife. Or I beat my kids. Or I'm addicted to pornography. Because moral failure, after all, has to be big.
While riding my bike today I was thinking about that question. (Why? I don't know. Odd question to think about in the beauty of the early morning.) How would I answer it?: I remembered a time when I thought about skipping Sunday school. Sometimes I eat too much dark chocolate. I really dislike Packer's Fans. I one time crossed party lines and voted for someone not of my political party. But no real big moral failures (at least that I'll put in writing.) And if I had answered the question that way, in that forum, I would have probably been accused of lying, or holding back, or of being un-relateable to the normal every day person, etc, by the press or other critics. Because, again, moral failure has to be something big.
But how about this for a confession:
I have far too often passed by people who needed my help because I was too busy, or didn't want to be bothered.
I have been far to critical of people throughout my life.
I have said things, mean things, about people behind their backs (including some of you! :))
I have abused the planet.
I have ignored the poor.
I have spent my God-given resources all too often on selfish, frivolous things.
Again and again I have not reflected the image of God.
In small ways every day I commit some kind of moral failure.
And it's those small acts of moral failure that can be most damning. Because if we continue to do them with little thought, we begin to lose our souls. We lose our humanity.
Just look at the world around us. The bitter arguments we have over politics, and usually about politics that don't matter like who's more like Paris Hilton or who's more like George Bush.
Look at the way we allow the genocide in Darfur to continue.
Look at the ways in which we ignore the needs of the poor.
Look at the way we gossip and gripe.
Little acts of moral failure become a habit that de-humanizes us all.
I'm guilty of those acts every day. A big moral failure I can eventually deal with and fix--as painful as it might be. It's the little ones that are so difficult to get at moment by moment.
But...and it's a big but...there's grace. There's the cross. There's Jesus. There's a second chance. There's restoration. There's the power to repent and live in the light of grace. There's transforming forgiveness. There is God--who through the grace of Jesus makes me human again.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Alaskan Cruise, Tuesday evening, August 19, 2008
Our last night. We've stopped at Campbell River, Canada. Up to the stop, we had some great scenery weaving between Islands. Saw a pod of Orcas. Saw a bald eagle in flight. As I mentioned in the last post, saw a humpback breach--3-4 times! Passed through Seymour Straight where, 50 years ago, a corp of engineers blew up a couple of mountains in the waterway (actually, under the water), the largest non-nuclear blast in history. Watched a 1958 video of the process and explosion. Reminded me of the EB films we used to watch in grade school.
It's cold and rainy (surprise!) here in Campbell River, so Jan and I opted out of the river rafting and went down the pier for a nice dinner. Jan topped it off with an A and W root beer float. I had a Starbucks hot chocolate with Soy milk. I'm pretty ready to get home and detox a bit from the sweets we've been enjoying the last few days. And will be glad to be off my diet of dramamine. Though once the rough seas ended I'm not sure I needed it. But always best to be safe on a trip like this.
It ended up being a nice relaxing 48 hours on the ship between Skagway and here. Did some reading, hanging out, taking in the scenery. Worked out. Ate. Ate some more. Ate again.
Sad to see it all end but looking forward to getting home.
It's cold and rainy (surprise!) here in Campbell River, so Jan and I opted out of the river rafting and went down the pier for a nice dinner. Jan topped it off with an A and W root beer float. I had a Starbucks hot chocolate with Soy milk. I'm pretty ready to get home and detox a bit from the sweets we've been enjoying the last few days. And will be glad to be off my diet of dramamine. Though once the rough seas ended I'm not sure I needed it. But always best to be safe on a trip like this.
It ended up being a nice relaxing 48 hours on the ship between Skagway and here. Did some reading, hanging out, taking in the scenery. Worked out. Ate. Ate some more. Ate again.
Sad to see it all end but looking forward to getting home.
Alaskan Cruise, Tuesday am, August 19, 2008
Yesterday we enjoyed an absolutely delicious chocoholic experience--chocolate fountain, sauce, mousse, decadent cakes, etc. Wow! I was in heaven.
This morning I saw a humpback whale breach 4 times! Also caught a bit of an Orca feeding. Hopefully, in about an hour, we'll be in Orca territory.
A bit overcast again today. But we're in the Vancouver area, passing through a series of small islands surrounded by smaller mountains. Quite the views.
This morning I saw a humpback whale breach 4 times! Also caught a bit of an Orca feeding. Hopefully, in about an hour, we'll be in Orca territory.
A bit overcast again today. But we're in the Vancouver area, passing through a series of small islands surrounded by smaller mountains. Quite the views.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Alaskan Cruise, Monday, afternoon, August 18, 2008
We're sitting on the top deck--observation room. Suddenly engulfed in a huge fog--on the open sea. Pretty darn cool.
Alaskan Cruise, Monday, am, August 18, 2008
This morning we woke up to...a sunrise!!! Though it's a mostly cloudy morning, the sun peeks in and out.
I can see why people are so enthusiastic about an Alaskan cruise. The more I'm on the ship, the more this cruise gets into my soul. Even though we've not had the best of weather (and the water is getting a bit choppy again!) it's still been amazing. If it's this good with less than ideal weather, it must be jaw-dropping in good weather.
By the way, they did manage to get the 11 stranded passengers on board last night. You would have thought we were welcoming rock stars on to the ship as they boarded. Imagine almost 24 hours stranded on a glacier. I think they were able to stay where the sled dogs are sheltered. Don't have a lot of details but the folks seemed to be ok.
This afternoon we have a piano concert with all kinds of decadent chocolate desserts. Something for Jan (piano) and something for me (chocolate!)
I can see why people are so enthusiastic about an Alaskan cruise. The more I'm on the ship, the more this cruise gets into my soul. Even though we've not had the best of weather (and the water is getting a bit choppy again!) it's still been amazing. If it's this good with less than ideal weather, it must be jaw-dropping in good weather.
By the way, they did manage to get the 11 stranded passengers on board last night. You would have thought we were welcoming rock stars on to the ship as they boarded. Imagine almost 24 hours stranded on a glacier. I think they were able to stay where the sled dogs are sheltered. Don't have a lot of details but the folks seemed to be ok.
This afternoon we have a piano concert with all kinds of decadent chocolate desserts. Something for Jan (piano) and something for me (chocolate!)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Alaskan Cruise, Sunday Evening, August 17. 2008
We woke up this morning about 2 hours out of Skagway. Pea soup fog! We took a train up the mountain. Caught a few good views. But at times we couldn't see a thing! Eerie and beautiful at the same time. Of course, much better when we could see the mountains. At times we were on sheer cliffs. The railroad was built during the gold rush. Interesting stuff.
We spent about an hour shopping in Skagway. Jan and I toured the former Brothel. Interesting place for a pastor to tour but it was fun in a goofy sort of way.
The fog lifted somewhat so the ride out of Skagway was breath-taking. (The locals keep telling us how great the weather was--last year! :) We just enjoy being cold for a change.)
We have to make a detour back to Juneau. Apparently 11 of our shipmates were stranded on a helicopter/dogsled adventure on a glacier. We aren't even sure if they have made it back down yet.
Before dinner Jan and I treated ourselves to a massage. Actually, we were given a ship credit and used it for that.
All in all, so far--a very nice trip with some not so nice weather. But this is Alaska, after all. One of God's masterpieces.
We will be on the boat now for the next 48 hours.
We spent about an hour shopping in Skagway. Jan and I toured the former Brothel. Interesting place for a pastor to tour but it was fun in a goofy sort of way.
The fog lifted somewhat so the ride out of Skagway was breath-taking. (The locals keep telling us how great the weather was--last year! :) We just enjoy being cold for a change.)
We have to make a detour back to Juneau. Apparently 11 of our shipmates were stranded on a helicopter/dogsled adventure on a glacier. We aren't even sure if they have made it back down yet.
Before dinner Jan and I treated ourselves to a massage. Actually, we were given a ship credit and used it for that.
All in all, so far--a very nice trip with some not so nice weather. But this is Alaska, after all. One of God's masterpieces.
We will be on the boat now for the next 48 hours.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Alaskan Cruise, Saturday evening, August 16
Yesterday we did a three hour land and sea experience. We had some great whale sightings from the boat! And watched a bald eagle on a small island. Back on the ship we took some extra time to enter a fjord near Sitka. It was a beautiful, sunny evening and the views were absolutely stunning.
We woke up to another cloudy day. Early in the morning we headed into Tracy's Arm--another fjord. Even though it was very cloudy it was a great ride. Lots of icebergs. Beautiful waterfalls. Good stuff.
This afternoon was a land/sea photo safari around Juneau. We headed out on boat first, saw some whales (not great) and some sea lions (awesome). Then to a glacier in the hope of seeing bears (no luck). Very cold. Very rainy all day.
The locals tell us this is the coldest, wettest summer they've experienced in years. Oh well...still an amazing trip.
We woke up to another cloudy day. Early in the morning we headed into Tracy's Arm--another fjord. Even though it was very cloudy it was a great ride. Lots of icebergs. Beautiful waterfalls. Good stuff.
This afternoon was a land/sea photo safari around Juneau. We headed out on boat first, saw some whales (not great) and some sea lions (awesome). Then to a glacier in the hope of seeing bears (no luck). Very cold. Very rainy all day.
The locals tell us this is the coldest, wettest summer they've experienced in years. Oh well...still an amazing trip.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Alaskan Cruise, Friday pm, August 15
A "this is why we cruise Alaska" day. The weather finally broke and the day was filled with mostly sunny skies. We stopped in Sitka and took a 3 hour boat ride, beach walk. We saw some whales!!!! and sea otters and a bald eagle. Jan has some great photos but we can't get them to upload so when we get home we'll put a few up.
The scenery is amazing. We're headed into a fjord soon so I need to get out of here and up to the top deck.
More to come.
The scenery is amazing. We're headed into a fjord soon so I need to get out of here and up to the top deck.
More to come.
Alaskan Cruise, Friday am, August 15
The night ride was much calmer, with a few big rolls from time to time. Woke up to a cloudy morning. As we now head into Sitka the sky seems to be clearing. We can actually see mountains!
A cruise like this is really dependent on weather. Since much of the joy of the cruise is the coastline (and our room is on the right side to see the coast) nice weather is crucial. Nice to finally see some coast rather than grey skies and grey waters.
Stunning scenery!
A cruise like this is really dependent on weather. Since much of the joy of the cruise is the coastline (and our room is on the right side to see the coast) nice weather is crucial. Nice to finally see some coast rather than grey skies and grey waters.
Stunning scenery!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Alaskan Cruise, Thursday evening, Aug. 14
It's about 6:30 pm our time. We just finished eating and are thinking about settling in for the night.
Turns out last night we were fighting 13 foot waves. The fun lasted until about 2:30 this afternoon. At that point we headed inland to Hubbard Glacier. The weather stayed overcast but the water became quite calm. Though cloudy, the views of the glaciers were magnificent. Nice to see some scenery after grey skies for so long. I guess we've had beautiful mountain ranges out our window the entire time. We just couldn't see them.
We are now headed our first port. The water is a bit choppier compared to Hubbard Glacier but still much better than what we had. Oy!
(We tried to add some pics but apparently our internet connection is not quite up to the task out here at sea.)
Until tomorrow...
Turns out last night we were fighting 13 foot waves. The fun lasted until about 2:30 this afternoon. At that point we headed inland to Hubbard Glacier. The weather stayed overcast but the water became quite calm. Though cloudy, the views of the glaciers were magnificent. Nice to see some scenery after grey skies for so long. I guess we've had beautiful mountain ranges out our window the entire time. We just couldn't see them.
We are now headed our first port. The water is a bit choppier compared to Hubbard Glacier but still much better than what we had. Oy!
(We tried to add some pics but apparently our internet connection is not quite up to the task out here at sea.)
Until tomorrow...
Alaskan Cruise, Thursday am, Aug. 14
I thought I would write up an occasional report on our Alaskan Cruise so that you can live vicariously through us.
Our day began at 2:30 am yesterday. We stayed near the airport due to a 6:20 am flight. We flew about 3 hours to Seattle. Then, after a 1 hour layover, another 3:30 hours to Anchorage. After a 1 hour wait, a 2 1/2 hour scenic bus ride to the ship. A long trip, but it went very smoothly and quickly. The bus ride was pretty amazing.
We are on Regent Seas, a smaller ship that only accommodates 700 passengers. Each room has its own balcony, which is nice. We departed at 6:00 pm Alaska time. It is now 10 am. We have been rockin' and rollin' since the moment we left. While working out this morning (an interesting experience with the ship lunging and bouncing) I asked one of the staff if this was normal. She said that normally she sleeps through the night. Last night the rocking woke her up. So we're having some fun. Thank goodness for Dramamine. (We took the advice of others and started taking it two days before the trip.)
Sitting in the room seems to be the most stable, if stable is even a word in this water. I tried to take in a lecture this morning but the rolling in the theater was way too intense for me. Jan stayed. And she's usually the queasy one on these kinds of waters.
We've been able to eat ok. Just trying to keep our balance (try taking a shower in this stuff!)
So...hopefully we're getting it out of its system.
Doesn't this make you want to cruise? :)
We saw some beautiful stuff early on last night. A big glacier tour awaits us today, weather permitting.
It's quite an adventure!
More to come.
Our day began at 2:30 am yesterday. We stayed near the airport due to a 6:20 am flight. We flew about 3 hours to Seattle. Then, after a 1 hour layover, another 3:30 hours to Anchorage. After a 1 hour wait, a 2 1/2 hour scenic bus ride to the ship. A long trip, but it went very smoothly and quickly. The bus ride was pretty amazing.
We are on Regent Seas, a smaller ship that only accommodates 700 passengers. Each room has its own balcony, which is nice. We departed at 6:00 pm Alaska time. It is now 10 am. We have been rockin' and rollin' since the moment we left. While working out this morning (an interesting experience with the ship lunging and bouncing) I asked one of the staff if this was normal. She said that normally she sleeps through the night. Last night the rocking woke her up. So we're having some fun. Thank goodness for Dramamine. (We took the advice of others and started taking it two days before the trip.)
Sitting in the room seems to be the most stable, if stable is even a word in this water. I tried to take in a lecture this morning but the rolling in the theater was way too intense for me. Jan stayed. And she's usually the queasy one on these kinds of waters.
We've been able to eat ok. Just trying to keep our balance (try taking a shower in this stuff!)
So...hopefully we're getting it out of its system.
Doesn't this make you want to cruise? :)
We saw some beautiful stuff early on last night. A big glacier tour awaits us today, weather permitting.
It's quite an adventure!
More to come.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Airline Nightmare
Before you read this post, make sure you read the one below this--the good news about the great wedding Corey and Alycia celebrated!
Yesterday (Tuesday) Corey and Alycia were to fly from LAX to Tahiti for their honeymoon on Air Tahiti Nui, leaving at around 4:30 pm. They boarded the plane at around 4:10 and then sat at the gate for almost 6 hours! An airline passenger's worst nightmare. The legroom was the smallest Alycia has ever seen in all her years of traveling the world on some pretty poor airlines. Corey is around 6' 4" so he was pretty cramped. Long story short--no real communication. 1 bag of pretzels and a drink during that 6 hours. Next to them sat another Air Tahitit Nui aircraft that they eventually boarded, 7 hours later, for the 8 hour flight. (I could go into a lot of details about the mis-steps of the airline. Suffice it to say they did very little right in handling their passengers.)
I bring this up not to get sympathy for Al and Corey but to share some stuff I learned about passenger rights during those 6 hours.
We don't have a lot of them but there is an organization working hard to get our congress to pass a bill with certain rights for airline travelers. It's being led by a woman named Kate.
I found her organization on the web. www.flyersrights.com I called their hotline number and was instructed to call Kate if stranded on an airplane. Moments later someone from the hotline called me back. Caller ID can be a good thing. She was going to call Kate immediately to get the media out there. This organization is doing what it can to highlight the abuse of passengers rights. Unfortunately Kate was not at home last night but she and I have been exchanging emails. Air Tahiti Nui did several things wrong, even illegal. The challenge is that, as with Al's and Corey's flight, few if any passengers do anything about it. We simply take it. And so the abuse continues. And trust me, it was a form of abuse. Ever felt like a hostage on a plane before?
Kate's group gives great insight into how to calmly yet confidently get your rights when situations like the above happen.
I recommend you put this number in your cell phone and keep it handy for the time when you are the victim of a delay like this. 707-337-0328.
By the way, with the exception of a bag of pretzels, the passengers received no food. And to my knowledge, nothing to make good on the lack of respect they experienced on the tarmac.
We can lovingly, proactively deal with these situations so that we and others are not taken advantage of. Think of it as a way of seeking justice for the shy ones on the plane who will never speak up for their rights.
Yesterday (Tuesday) Corey and Alycia were to fly from LAX to Tahiti for their honeymoon on Air Tahiti Nui, leaving at around 4:30 pm. They boarded the plane at around 4:10 and then sat at the gate for almost 6 hours! An airline passenger's worst nightmare. The legroom was the smallest Alycia has ever seen in all her years of traveling the world on some pretty poor airlines. Corey is around 6' 4" so he was pretty cramped. Long story short--no real communication. 1 bag of pretzels and a drink during that 6 hours. Next to them sat another Air Tahitit Nui aircraft that they eventually boarded, 7 hours later, for the 8 hour flight. (I could go into a lot of details about the mis-steps of the airline. Suffice it to say they did very little right in handling their passengers.)
I bring this up not to get sympathy for Al and Corey but to share some stuff I learned about passenger rights during those 6 hours.
We don't have a lot of them but there is an organization working hard to get our congress to pass a bill with certain rights for airline travelers. It's being led by a woman named Kate.
I found her organization on the web. www.flyersrights.com I called their hotline number and was instructed to call Kate if stranded on an airplane. Moments later someone from the hotline called me back. Caller ID can be a good thing. She was going to call Kate immediately to get the media out there. This organization is doing what it can to highlight the abuse of passengers rights. Unfortunately Kate was not at home last night but she and I have been exchanging emails. Air Tahiti Nui did several things wrong, even illegal. The challenge is that, as with Al's and Corey's flight, few if any passengers do anything about it. We simply take it. And so the abuse continues. And trust me, it was a form of abuse. Ever felt like a hostage on a plane before?
Kate's group gives great insight into how to calmly yet confidently get your rights when situations like the above happen.
I recommend you put this number in your cell phone and keep it handy for the time when you are the victim of a delay like this. 707-337-0328.
By the way, with the exception of a bag of pretzels, the passengers received no food. And to my knowledge, nothing to make good on the lack of respect they experienced on the tarmac.
We can lovingly, proactively deal with these situations so that we and others are not taken advantage of. Think of it as a way of seeking justice for the shy ones on the plane who will never speak up for their rights.
Reflections on the Big Wedding
Jan and I are headed out of town today for an Alaskan Cruise. I promised I would take her on the cruise when she turned 40. She's turned 40 11 times since then but we're finally doing it!
So before we head out a few reflections on the marriage of my daughter Alycia to her now husband, Corey.
Because Alycia was in school in Minneapolis, Jan did the majority of the planning for the wedding and absolutely loved it. And the wedding went without a hitch, almost.
Around 5:45 am Saturday, as Alycia was heading out to get her hair done (for the 10 am wedding) she yelled that she couldn't find her engagement ring. Long story short, our Beagle, Santi, had taken it. Thankfully, she didn't swallow it (as she did a year ago with one of Jan's diamond stud earrings!). She just laid it down at her feet and waited for us to acknowledge what a good girl she was for "finding" the ring.
It was an outdoor wedding and turned out to be even warmer than we had expected. The mornings leading up to Saturday had been fairly mild at 10 am (mild for Phoenix). But the wedding staff did a great job of getting 90% of the guests in shade and everyone was given a fan.
My son and I played some fooseball while pics were being taken and at one point had a laughing fit that left us in tears. In the end, it got some good emotion out of me so that I was able to lead the ceremony just fine.
Alycia was absolutely radiant, wearing her mom's wedding dress with a few touches of her grandma's wedding dress mixed in. Corey looked fantastic, as well.
As a surprise to my dad, I asked him just before the wedding if he would walk Alycia down the stairs to the start of the aisle where Jan and I would then walk her up front. It was a nice moment for him. Alycia didn't know that Jan would also walk her down the aisle. Because of Alycia's passion for women's rights, she decided not to have me give her away. While she loves the tradition, she wanted that day, as an act of solidarity with women who are treated like property to be sold or given away, to not have me do the traditional dad thing. So I had Corey's siblings give him away, instead.
It was such a privilege to perform the ceremony. Though a bit warm, it was a moving, fun, touching ceremony. During the unity sand Amber, our daughter in law, sang a song from West Side Story. Our son, Mike, ended it with a quick surprise solo of "My love opens the door..." Very unexpected. Very Mike. Very funny.
The only time when I felt I would lose it was during the opening prayer as I gave thanks for all who had shaped the lives of Corey and Alycia. I thought of my mom. Earlier dad had said this was the one wedding mom wanted to see as Alycia was the first grandchild.
The reception was great fun. Various stations with amazing brunch type food. And a big band provided the music. Corey and Alycia learned a dance to "In the Mood." Wow. Words can't describe the next dance as I dazzled people with my lack of fancy footwork during the dad/daughter, son/mother dance. Alycia and Corey did their best to ensure that the wedding was a "green" as possible, using bio-degradable plates and providing recycle bins for plastics.
It was so fun to see Alycia and Corey so happy.
Surprisingly, to me, it was on Monday that the emotions set in. Thinking about my daughter now married. The relationship will be different from now on.
Saturday was a good day. (If I get a free moment I'll try to add a pic or two.)
(On Sunday, just before we were to head out to church, Jan discovered that Santi the Beagle had somehow gotten a bag of brownies and eaten around 10 of them. A quick call to the vet and we forced Santi to throw up! Pleasant stuff. Jan had to miss church on Sunday to stay with Santi. She was a bit out of it (Santi, not Jan) for most of the day but she's back to her normal lovable, naughty self. (Perhaps not ironically, the sermon I preached that day was on Hell! We were in it for a few moments with our dog.)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
My Daughter and I
I wrote the following today for a local newspaper. So I thought I'd post it on my blog as well.
This weekend (August 9) my daughter is getting married. I have the privilege of walking my daughter down the aisle, paying for the wedding!, and, because I’m a pastor, I also get to perform the wedding ceremony.
Thankfully, we are thrilled with her husband-to-be. He’s a tall, Minnesota boy (who has a job!) who’s a perfect partner for our daughter. Since the day Alycia was born my wife and I have prayed regularly that God would bless Alycia with a good life partner. And God has answered those prayers.
Alycia is our first-born. I’m a first-born. So the two of us have had a very special relationship. We’re both driven. We’re both headstrong. We’re both opinionated. We argue fiercely and love each other just as passionately. The challenge for Alycia is that my opinions are always right!
Usually a dad hopes he’s passed along some important life insights to his kids. But in the case of Alycia, I think I’ve learned more from her than she from me.
Alycia discovered her passion in life just before college. In searching for where she’d attend college she found Richmond University—an American University in London. She headed overseas (to the delight and sadness of her dad) to study human rights—with a particular focus on women’s rights. Because I’ve done some writing in my life, Alycia always asked me to edit her papers. It proved to be life changing for me as her papers introduced me to a world I knew existed but never paid much attention to—a world of abuse, trafficking, injustice, poverty, and heartache. (And, I must add, a world of beauty and goodness and hope!)
In her Senior year of college she headed off on her own to Rwanda to study the effects of the 1994 genocide on women. She had no contacts there. She simply went hoping for the best. I was a nervous wreck! To be honest, I had no real knowledge of Rwanda or the genocide. But in editing her paper on her experience later on I felt a stirring in my heart—a call to somehow in someway support the Rwandans as they tried to put their country together. That led to a trip to Rwanda with my daughter, in 2005, the first of 3 so far. And it leads to an active partnership with the Rwandan Lutheran Church and our congregation.
Her understanding of our broken world continues to stretch me.
Because of her I try to watch the BBC World News broadcast each day to keep up on the world. Because of her I’ve become far more sensitive to the pain of the world and how I and my congregation might make a difference. She’s even forced me to rethink many of my political views! Most importantly, she’s helped make me a better pastor in opening my eyes to a grace-hungry world.
She has one year left of law school, pursuing her dream to become a human rights lawyer. Then—she’s off to change the world in some small or big way.
But she’s already been changing it. She’s changed my life since the moment she was born. She’s had a profound impact on my ministry and the mission of our congregation though she may not know it. The Lutheran Church in Rwanda has been blessed and supported significantly because of her passion for that country. And now she has the chance to join with her soul mate to continue to impact the hurting world around her by fighting for justice and bringing grace to the world.
I’m not sad in the least that she is leaving home to get married since she left home 10 years ago. I am, however, deeply grateful for the chance to watch this amazing woman begin a new chapter in her life, and to thank her for the impact she’s had on my life by “marrying” her and her fiancé—tying the knot as tightly as I can!
This weekend (August 9) my daughter is getting married. I have the privilege of walking my daughter down the aisle, paying for the wedding!, and, because I’m a pastor, I also get to perform the wedding ceremony.
Thankfully, we are thrilled with her husband-to-be. He’s a tall, Minnesota boy (who has a job!) who’s a perfect partner for our daughter. Since the day Alycia was born my wife and I have prayed regularly that God would bless Alycia with a good life partner. And God has answered those prayers.
Alycia is our first-born. I’m a first-born. So the two of us have had a very special relationship. We’re both driven. We’re both headstrong. We’re both opinionated. We argue fiercely and love each other just as passionately. The challenge for Alycia is that my opinions are always right!
Usually a dad hopes he’s passed along some important life insights to his kids. But in the case of Alycia, I think I’ve learned more from her than she from me.
Alycia discovered her passion in life just before college. In searching for where she’d attend college she found Richmond University—an American University in London. She headed overseas (to the delight and sadness of her dad) to study human rights—with a particular focus on women’s rights. Because I’ve done some writing in my life, Alycia always asked me to edit her papers. It proved to be life changing for me as her papers introduced me to a world I knew existed but never paid much attention to—a world of abuse, trafficking, injustice, poverty, and heartache. (And, I must add, a world of beauty and goodness and hope!)
In her Senior year of college she headed off on her own to Rwanda to study the effects of the 1994 genocide on women. She had no contacts there. She simply went hoping for the best. I was a nervous wreck! To be honest, I had no real knowledge of Rwanda or the genocide. But in editing her paper on her experience later on I felt a stirring in my heart—a call to somehow in someway support the Rwandans as they tried to put their country together. That led to a trip to Rwanda with my daughter, in 2005, the first of 3 so far. And it leads to an active partnership with the Rwandan Lutheran Church and our congregation.
Her understanding of our broken world continues to stretch me.
Because of her I try to watch the BBC World News broadcast each day to keep up on the world. Because of her I’ve become far more sensitive to the pain of the world and how I and my congregation might make a difference. She’s even forced me to rethink many of my political views! Most importantly, she’s helped make me a better pastor in opening my eyes to a grace-hungry world.
She has one year left of law school, pursuing her dream to become a human rights lawyer. Then—she’s off to change the world in some small or big way.
But she’s already been changing it. She’s changed my life since the moment she was born. She’s had a profound impact on my ministry and the mission of our congregation though she may not know it. The Lutheran Church in Rwanda has been blessed and supported significantly because of her passion for that country. And now she has the chance to join with her soul mate to continue to impact the hurting world around her by fighting for justice and bringing grace to the world.
I’m not sad in the least that she is leaving home to get married since she left home 10 years ago. I am, however, deeply grateful for the chance to watch this amazing woman begin a new chapter in her life, and to thank her for the impact she’s had on my life by “marrying” her and her fiancé—tying the knot as tightly as I can!
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