NATO

Today is the 75th anniversary of NATO. Harry Truman is often overlooked as an important president. But the Truman Doctrine meant American support for other nations threatened by Moscow. It led to the formation of NATO in 1949.  NATO is needed as much now as then to fend off totalitarian movements.   

 

At Good Friday service this evening, we heard the words: 

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

As I was leaving the church in silence, a young man whom I did not know and who did not know me, saw me walking with my came and quietly took my arm to help me down the steps. We give and receive one another in Christ's care.

Good Friday

 The Agnus Dei

O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.  O Christ, Thou Lamb of God that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen

Final Snow?

 This may be the last snow we will see off our deck this season.  "May be!"

"God Bless the USA" Bible endorsed by Trump

 In a predictable attempt to take more money from his conservative base, Donald Trump is now selling copies of the "God Bless the USA" Bible,  just in time for Easter. He was paid for his endorsement. 

"God Bless the USA Bible" includes the King James Version of the  text, along with the text of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance.  It promotes Christian Nationalism and is anti-Muslim. Trump, when in 2015, was asked what his favorite Bible passage was, couldn't think of a single verse.

Spring Equinox

The sun set last night at 7:15.  It is now 7:00 a.m and the sun is just about to rise--it will be 7:15.

 

22 Seconds

 

March Madness.  Of course I'm for the Iowa Women, but I'm also rooting for my graduate school, Yale. Yale (of course not the Divinity School) won the the Ivy league championship by making 8 points in the final 22 seconds in their game against Brown. Unbelievable!

Receiving Refugees

 A short FaceBook Post from Deaconess Connie Johnson in Eau Claire, Wisconsin: "I read some reporting today that some folks in Western Wisconsin were getting all worked up about whether Eau Claire County was “prepared” to handle 75 new Somali families being resettled there.

Here is what I remember about the people of Eau Claire County when I was growing up.

My family welcomed some of the first Hmong families into the area. They even lived with us for a time until more permanent home could be found.

Did I get mad and throw a hissy fit?

Nope.

I woke up the next morning and found one of the girls about my age at the table. She didn’t know English. I figured she might be hungry so I got some Lucky Charms and poured her a bowl. She took a big spoonful and her eyes got big and a huge smile crossed her face.

Our families reunited about 6 years ago and she came up to me and said, Do you remember giving me that bowl of cereal? I knew America was going to be great after that first bite.

Anyway, I wish people had more attitudes like that these days instead of all this fear mongering. What happened to rolling up our sleeves and figuring stuff out?"

Dangerous World

 We live in a dangerous world.  Amidst Russia's threat to use nuclear weapons, the war in the Middle East and the troubles in Haiti, I have great respect for Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Serving the Public

 

Thanks for the Women

 On this International Women's Day I give thanks for all the women in my life: deaconesses, pastors, bishops, friends, granddaughters, and all my sisters in Christ.

Keep On Walking

 Keep on Walking

2024 is not a year to take time out from paying attention to politics or voting.  Check to see if you are (still) on the voter registration roles. Be engaged. Listen. Watch. Read. Talk. Listen to the State of the Union Address this evening, March 7.  Our democracy is on the ballot. Your voice and vote are necessary.