RnR Fusion Media - Rick Land & Russ Tapp - Blog

A Miracle on 34th Street

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:30:42 -0800

A Miracle on 34th Street -

I just finished my second viewing of this great film. I used several tissues as well...

I was overwhelmingly struck by the message behind that timeless film.

We were recently in NYC where that film was based if you recall and I simply had to see the Annual Christmas Show and the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The early stages of all that extravagant Manhattan holiday lighting were in full swing.

We were in the line to get our tickets for the afternoon matinee and there was an adorable little blond girl wearing the most beautiful green dress, red sequened shoes, with little sparkles of tinsel and decoration in her hair scurrying about with her mother. They were in the wrong line and frantically trying to get over into the matinee line ( there were hundreds of folks lined up to purchase tickets for future performances.) Once inside, I was spell bound at that expectant full house of over 6000 people, and at the parents and beautiful children all seated together for this truly American tradition. I could not hold back the tears.

My thoughts whirled back to my childhood and of Santa Clause and all the effort my parents expended on Christmas and the things that"Santa" would bring - -

One vivid thought stands out in my mind...on Christmas morning, as we dashed down the stairs to see if Santa had come again for another year - the toys and clothes were all accompanied by special hand written notes to us from Santa in HIS VERY OWN HANDWRITING! That inimitable hand writing gave instructions as to whom the item belonged, if it was to be shared and reminding us to be good boys in the coming year and for me to take care of my little brothers...

I can now see where that annual event was our first childhood experience in faith and hope and believing always that good things came to us each Christmas.

Imagine what it would have been like to come down to the living room on Christmas Morning to find the tree completely dismantled and a note for each of us saying..."you are horrible, miserable little boys - you are not and will never be worthy of any gifts from Santa! And further more, he will never, ever visit this house until you behave and repent of all your horrible behavior!"

In many ways this is precisely what some forms of modern "christanity" has become.

Repent. Behave. Conform. You are a miserable human being.

The truth is - we cannot fail, we cannot do anything to stop God's love. The very worst of humanity does not change God one iota. The pain and misery of the human race is not God's fault...we are created perfectly in the image of a perfect spiritual entity.

But somewhere in the process of on-going life something goes terribly awry - theologians, philosophers, correctional insititutions, lawyers, judges, churches and preachers ad infinitum attempt to provide explanations, solutions and remedies for the "human condition" .

It is not difficult to understand, no matter what we do or what anyone says...and it all starts when we hang around with other human beings. Kinda funny isn't it...

My Mother wrote those personal notes to each of us on Christmas morning each year - I wish she had said..."boys do not pay undue attention to other people, learn everything you can, be yourselves, think for yourselves, believe in goodness, make life beautiful every single day, love everyone like crazy and always believe in Santa Clause" mom

peace rdl

Comments on Matthew 22:15-22

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:00:03 -0700

..commentary on the Lesson

Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Down through human history, humanity has proven itself to be largely "un-redeemable". Recently, we noted that perhaps the creation of humanity is a huge cosmic joke. The sheer unchangeable nature of
man appears to be a fact of life.

However, there are countless acts of human kindness, patience, tolerance, benevolence and profound self sacrifice.

Where does this kindness come from?

In reading the lesson - Jesus was obviously very shrewd in his response to the "legalists' of his day.

I cannot imagine living a life in constant danger. Jesus put himself in the position of possible physical harm every day. He challenged every human assumption, every human frailty and deviance.

World wars have been fought to confront the deviance of civilizations. There is possibly no more extreme deviant human behavior than the holocaust.

Can we learn anything from history or from the words of Jesus?
Has the church had any positive effect whatsoever on human behavior?
Americans now have more laws and institutions of law enforcement than ever before in history, and there appears to be no end in sight.

The whole "culture" of human protection, healthcare, education, law enforcement ad infinitum have never been more sophisticated and complex, and the "vortex of taxes" to pay for it all has never been so pervasive.

Is it possible that we can actually learn something from Jesus words concerning "whose face was on the coin used for tax" ?

If we do not pay our taxes - we will suffer incarceration - we do not have a choice. But we have another choice...no institution, religion or system can or will ever force us to be "better".

If we give God something far, far more significant - our spiritual consciousness - - our lives will be radically changed, our thinking and behavior will be profoundly affected. Simple acts of prayer and confession in our liturgy should jolt us our of our bad habits, apathy and stupidity.
But, it requires a conscious effort to be "better" - to think wisely and to behave in a way that contradicts everything in society. Unfortunately, it may require more patience than we possess.
It now appears that the church historically, has had very little effect on human behavior and in some ways, made it more corrupt, confused and neurotic.
We can make a proactive, individual choice to rise above institutions, social influence, religious ambiguity and raw human nature.

"...give therefore unto the emperor the things that are the emperor's,
and to God the things that are God's."

There will always be "pharisees" among us who cannot change, who will never comprehend human compassion, tolerance, love, equanimity and patience. That's just the way it is...

We may be authentically disciplined and truly loving in our personal behavior, but we still have to pay our taxes to protect us from the "nut" next door.
Institutions can "adjust" human behavior, but only God can change the "human heart".

comments on Matthew 22:1-14

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:18:16 -0700

...comment on the Lesson
Matthew 22:1-14

This chapter is a continuation of Christ's discourses in the temple, two or three days before he died. His discourses then are largely recorded, as being of special weight and consequence. In this chapter, we have,

I. Instruction given, by the parable of the marriage-supper, concerning the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles (v. 1-10), and, by the doom of the guest that had not the wedding-garment, the danger of hypocrisy in the profession of Christianity (v. 11-14).
II. Disputes with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, who opposed Christ, 1. Concerning paying tribute to Caesar (v. 15-22). Concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the future state (v. 23-33). Concerning the great commandment of the law (v. 34-40). Concerning the relation of the Messiah to David (v. 41-46).

I think it very likely that Herod would come to mind, and I also think it very likely that his marriage on the eve of the battle by which he conquered Jerusalem would be a part of the popular imagination. In fact, given the parable's immediate reference to a king and a wedding banquet, the thought of Herod's pre-battle marriage would be more likely to have been the first association anyone made with the parable's wedding banquet setting.[1] This makes the parable's focus on the guests as the crucial actors and particularly the reference to them as "ameleo" all the more understandable and important. Jesus presumably has in his audience not just those who fear his challenge to the established order; he also likely has a second audience which has been awaiting a challenge to that order. Both are looking for vindications of their position, and Jesus allows neither to find it at the expense of the other.

Why would Herod leave an army on the eve of battle to finalize a marriage? I pointed out that the parable's king was not immune to mimetic contagion. Herod the Great was a man of considerable sophistication, even if he was impetuous, tyrannical etc. He was sophisticated enough to realize the wisdom of having legitimacy precede his conquering. In this he remained consistent with the logic of his actions when he had attempted diplomacy. Marriage would shelter him and to some extent elevate him above the mimetic passions that will inevitably permeate the city. Were he to marry inside the city following the battle the marriage would appear to be a spoil of war. It was better to marry early and offstage in order to keep the incipient dynasty as separate as possible from the associations that made it possible. Much of Jesus' audience would be wondering if Jesus would be bringing those associations back to the forefront. Jesus had the option of using the marriage reference as a carefully coded but generally understood reference to what he perceived to be the illegitimacy of the Herodian regime. This of course would then be the prelude to a rebellion in which the illegitimate Herodian dynasty would be replaced by Israel's legitimate rulers. It would also be a return to the world of strife the parable presents so clearly. Everyone was so fixated on having Jesus either claim them as their patron via the parable or have their opposition to him vindicated by the parable that no one could hear what Jesus was actually saying in the parable, which was that once we forsake the kingdom of heaven conflict will make us indistinguishable from each other.

Kings shall shut their mouths because of him...

[1] The listener would probably also have had in mind that Herod later kills this wife and her sons because he perceived them to be possible rivals for the throne. They would hear sarcasm in Jesus' words.

Marty Aikin, Yale University

... a few thoughts for inner peace.

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:02:43 -0700

..a few thoughts for inner peace.

Look up at the sky on a cloudless night and ponder that there is no end to the universe.
Out beyond the billions of galaxies there is not a wall or barrier.

It is now impossible to imagine that the Catholic Church would imprison Galileo for discovering and attempting to prove that the sun did, in fact , not revolve around the earth - a mere 400 years ago.
Some scientists are beginning to believe that the universe always existed. If there were no big bang and beginning of creation - many of our our beliefs about God and the beginning of the universe would disappear.
Try to imagine what it was like when we discovered that the earth was not flat
That is a fearful thing for many people who are genetically predisposed to have extremely finite thinking.
Suddenly, we would have nothing to fear...God has always been and always will be.
Our brief life on earth is a mere speck of sand in the whole of universal time.
The existence of humanity is an infinitesimally small period in the timelessness of the entire universe.

And yet there is spirit. There is the human soul. The human mind.
In light of an endless universe - how could we possibly doubt the unfathomable significance of humanity and the human spirit.
This fact should radically change our perceptions of everything about us .
We are all one.
We are all equal.
We are all infinite beings.
We are all a part of a universe that we cannot describe, understand or comprehend...
and yet we cannot get along with one another, we are ignorantly bound by race, color, nationality and belief.
Our national leaders and institutions have no concept that we live in a perfectly ordered universe -
our own pitiful misunderstanding of the meaning of life is basically irrelevant.
God is truly in His heaven and all is right with the world.

The bombing of the World Trade Center is perhaps one of the most recent examples of cultural ignorance and irrelevance. We perpetuate hate and malice out of ignorance - humanity does not wish to face the fact that "all men are created equal" and we have to ask the question...will we wipe out all of humanity for one reason alone...because we fear the unknown, the unexplainable and the unknowable? Is the origin of human existence some horrible cosmic mistake?

We are at the crossroads of the most significant period in all of humanity.
The human brain and it's complexities are in direct proportion to the unfathomable depth of an endless universe. The next wave of discovery will involve something that none of us are prepared for...the connection between the polarities in the human brain and the entire cosmos, it's pure physics.

- - but for now, it still appears that fear alone - will be the ultimate death of humanity...

Can you possibly comprehend how men like Copernicus and Galileo must have felt when they KNEW that the earth was not flat and that the earth actually revolved around the sun!

Can you possibly comprehend something so unfathomable as a universe and a "God "who always ...was, and is and will be, world without end. amen

Why do we fear the obvious.

Of Tall Trees...and other Perplexities III

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:41 -0700

The kingdom of heaven...talk about perplexities.

There is possibly no other subject in the entire "kingdom" of theological rhetoric so utterly and completely misunderstood as the subject of heaven. We now have countless stories of individuals who have "after death" experiences. Visions of joy, unspeakable peace, seeing friends and family who have passed on and the real common thread - light, lots of beautiful white light.

*** Let me first give this disclaimer about my following comments: The following thoughts are not necessarily endorsed or espoused by the Episcopal Church or the leadership of St. Matthews...They are personal to me and I only share them to give us something to ponder as we look at this week's Gospel passages. I am sure many would take theological issue to my personal comments and views. As such, my views are not to be treated as an exhaustive theological treatise endorsed by the Episcopal Church but only as an expression of my personal experiences and understandings. ***

I will never forget the time I " accidentally" met the world famous psychic, Dr. George Anderson on Long Island in New York. At the time I had no clue who or what he was. We stood and talked about theology, life and general things. He never once mentioned to me in that conversation - anything - about his rare gift of "speaking to folks on the other side". I later bought and devoured his books about his conversations with those who have died and are on "the other side". He keeps a very low profile in New York City and is booked with appointments for many years to come. There is no doubt in my mind that this guy is for real - and there are many others like him around the world.

I do not think it heretical to say that Jesus "knew" things - was he not the son of God...for heavens sake?!

I am being facetious. Perhaps he knew waaay more than he let on. If he approached the crowds with some ability to bring messages to his listeners "from the other side" - surely they would have really freaked out, don't ya think? I know I would. Instead he used these perplexing analogies about heaven being like mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a merchant in search of pearls and baskets overflowing with fish...then he gets to the most poignant statements about angels "coming out" and separating the evil from the righteous and throwing them into a furnace of fire where "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth". Good lord! Reminds me of all the hell fire and brimstone sermons I have endured.

Brace yourself...most respected psychics do not support any theories about any division between "heaven and hell"...period. They all agree that heaven is a place of rest and healing for saints, murderers, folks who have commited suicide, folks who were depressed, and just folks like you and me. Heaven is not far off somewhere - it is all around us - "the saints" are right here with us and as George Anderson believes - they see us and hear us...but they do not know our pain - they also seek individuals like him to speak with grieving relatives who are left behind. It is entirely up to you whether or not you believe all this. I do...and have experienced some shockingly profound conversations "with the other side" on several occasions with the assistance of some pretty astounding mediums.

We live in a skeptical, cynical and materialistic world. We have not evolved as a human race to comprehend a mere fraction of the complexities of the universe and the spiritual realm. We are still playing "school yard" games with one another. Leaders lack insight and wisdom. Technology and "spirituality" is moving faster than the human race can comprehend. We now have the potential via the internet to interconnect as "one people" throughout the entire world and circumvent all forms of media, authority and ignorance.

One last thought - back in 1997 - I came across a book at a Borders book store in Dallas that was forecasting business trends and the general evolution of all things "earthly". I have long forgotten the name of the author and the book - but will never forget a paragraph in that book - "within the next 15 to 20 years, every earthly institution and belief that has held this world together will literally disappear and be replaced by a new consciousness".

I Kings 3:12 ( from the OT reading for the day)

"Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you."

...ponder that line in the collect for today -

"that we may so pass through things temporal,

that we lose not the things eternal."

...and the last line of the lesson...don't miss this -

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure

what is new and what is old."

...oh, and the last line of the text from the offertory listed below -
The peace of God, it is no peace, but strife closed in the sod.

Yet, let us pray for one thing, the marvelous peace of God."

William Alexander Percy

rdl

Of Tall Trees and Other Perplexities

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:30:51 -0700

We are experiencing a historic drought in the Texas Panhandle - in case you havn't noticed.

The soil is extremely dry and hard. These poor old native Chinese Elm trees are even struggling to survive. As we all know - those roots will permeate almost anything ( especially our sewer lines, now there is a parable for ya !! ). The parable of the seed and the sower will always be a timeless guide for us as we live out our daily lives before our families, co-workers and the world at large.

Invariably, we will all face a crisis or emotional situation that will test our "root" beliefs, internal compass and patience.

I was taught a very specific code of social behavior growing up here in the Panhandle. The privacy of our home was the place where we could express ourselves, our feelings, frustrations and basic human behavior. But, when we were in public - my brothers and I were expected to behave as gentlemen - polite, balanced and astute.

No exceptions.

Our "behavioral seeds" were being planted as early as I can remember. We were not only taught by example but by an expected level of personal behavioral discipline that was intended to carry us through lots of rough spots in daily life.

It seems odd that all that "seed planting" almost became a curse during my life as a church musician. That discipline was so indelibly etched on my consciousness that I probably seemed arrogant.

According to my own personal expectations - there was no room for temper tantrums, pettiness and discord. Boy was I naive and a great part of my "internal compass" was also cosmic.

Good old fashioned Libra balance... As a kid -it was easy for me to conform and be quiet.

Now as an adult - I secretly often want to throw out every discipline, belief and internal mechanism. But those "seeds" were imbedded deep inside me in some very fertile soil.

During my days in evangelical churches I witnessed some pretty petty issues because of the enormous duplicity within those institutions.

One Sunday in particular I witnessed something that forever changed my thinking about "polite behavior". One Sunday morning, the infamous and notorious W. A. Criswell suddenly launched into a tirade at the sound technician in the balcony in front of 2000 people for a sudden feedback in the sound system. After the service, I was clearing up around the organ and saw the sound technician walk up to W.A. and grab him by the collar and said "if you ever do that to me again I will knock your *^&(% lights out". W.A. could just as easily have waited until a reasonable time to "redress" the technician (who remained in that position long after W.A. was dead.).

Is there a time in life when all those "seeds" of self discipline and teaching that have grown into massive trees need to be uprooted? Didn't Jesus throw money lenders out of the temple in outrage? Do you think his mama asked him what on earth he was thinking?

Perhaps the lesson is this - retain your deep roots and convictions, be circumspect but not lethargic, disciplined but not wimpy...there may come a time when you will have to rip off a BIG branch of your "tree of life" and hit someone over the head with it. RDL

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The Day They Closed the Church

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:26:30 -0700

The Day They Closed The Church

My first days as an Episcopalian were spent in Dallas in a conservative little parish that split off of a larger congregation back during all the hoopla over the new Book of Common Prayer. Even though I was on the staff at FBC Dallas, I never failed to attend a simple and meaningful service of communion in this beautiful refuge of sanity and hope every Wednesday at noon. The rector had attended a fundamentalist bible college when the mystery of liturgy caught him by the throat and he "defected" ASAP! He was working at a major evangelical denominational publishing company in Nashville and was given the responsibility of doing a Lenten series. He had no idea what Lent was so they told him to go across the street to the Episcopal Church and find out. He told me that he literally walked in the door and had the very common feeling so many of us feel - he felt he was finally at home...he and I spent hours in conversation about the ills, spiritual abuse and emptiness of evangelical religion.

There is great irony in my own story of coming out of evangelicalism in the fact that I spent hours in my youth practicing the organ which I now play every Sunday at St. Matthews in Pampa, my hometown. There is not enough room on this page for me to tell the stories of profound synchronicity that dogged me throughout my life until I finally "fell" into the Episcopal church.

My personal theology and understanding of God is no longer naive and co-dependent. I now have a better understanding of what is real, what is authentic and intellectually honest. I find our liturgy to be one of the last religious art forms in existence. The beautiful prose and elegant prayers contain centuries of spiritual travail and soul searching.

There was a time when folks were Episcopalian because it was the most credible and powerfully influential denomination in existence. However, too many of our society no longer need to be associated with anything or any institution that might lend itself to our personal "credibility". It now seems that still too many Americans are completely oblivious to education, integrity and excellence. We are anesthetized by the internet, media and "politically charged cultural clutter".

Russ and I were recently in Lubbock at the offices of the Northwest Texas Diocese of the Episcopal Church. The women who coordinate the endless activities, logistics and details of this enormously scattered aggregation of Episcopal Churches are some of the most intelligent, engaging and completely fun group of people I have ever met. Our new Bishop, Scott Meyer dropped by on his way to yet another distant obligation somewhere in the vastness of this unique part of the greater US of A.

As we listened to the stories of the closing of several small parish churches that day in Lubbock - they recounted in particular the story of one that was to be closed. There was one single surviving church member, an elderly woman who told personal stories of her individual family members who had been baptized, married, confirmed, buried and lived their entire lives within the spiritual boundaries of that small parish. The deep, gut wrenching tears and sobs from that beautiful saint would grip the most hardened and cynical among us.

As I listened to the story of that single surviving woman who was weeping at the loss of her church...I was reminded of something:

* I was forced to reexamine all of my life history in the church.

* I now know a lot more about the priorities of life.

* We as Episcopalians have permission to think for ourselves.

We can "scrape and claw" our way through the irrelevance of things that are ignoble and shallow. We have the right and inherent ability to find out what is authentic and real in this life. We can question, examine, seek, probe, investigate, approve or reject anything we wish. We also recognize our ability to see ourselves as we really are and embrace our humanity with joy and sheer abandonment. We do not need anyone to tell us that we are all pilgrims on this wonderful journey through life. We are all the same in our need for love, nurture, authenticity, connection, and acceptance. We are not a disconnected, abandoned, fragmented and helpless nation. We all are profoundly connected to one another.

We desperately need to reach out to those who are wandering around in a world of frustration and noisy excess. The vast majority of Americans see no need for church - I really don't blame them. Spirituality and "connection" are all about us on many levels and there are no limits to our ability to communicate anywhere in the world via the internet, television, email, books etc. But, we still need a relevant theology that is intellectually and historically honest and we need authentic love for others that is without borders or boundaries. So where do we begin?... amen. rdl

Where have they all gone...

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:46:50 -0700

Hi group - I just had to relay to you a brief personal comment about the Evensong at St. Andrews last evening - a small group from the First United Methodist Church Lubbock Sanctuary choir led evensong and their organist played as well.

I have not heard that level of choral sound since hearing the choir of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic in Dallas back in the 80's and 90's under the direction of Paul Reido - that church changed my life - I had not ever and have not since heard such magnificent choral blend. There was no carpet in the church or pew cushions and they even turned off the A/C so as to have a perfectly quiet room - the music was breathtaking and Paul always improvised at the organ between the choral selections during a performance. I could go on and on about those experiences - and last night brought it all back.

This is a select group of 15 singers from their 50 voice sanctuary choir - they sang the traditional evensong literature standing in a circle on the platform area where the altar usually is placed. I say this with complete honesty - there is not another room like St. Andrews anywhere in the south - except, if you have ever been to the Basilica in St. Louis, there is a 13 second delay in the sound- and hearing that organ and choir will change your life.

I try not to make a big deal about St. Andrews - but that place almost makes it worthwhile to live up here... as you know, I played for Margaret this summer as usual - and I actually hold back - is it possible to sensationalize anything and I find it VERY tempting - one sunday I played all well known French organ classics, another sunday I improvised the entire service - something just takes over in that space...I give em' FULL ORGAN and then make it whisper...those folks soak it up like sponges and they know they are spoiled in that space!!! What I would give if all of you could know what it feels like to play a magnificent pipe organ!!!

I do not brag when I say that I have been around the block - folks cannot imagine what it was like back in those years at FBC Dallas in the waning days of W.A. Criswell - it simply cannot be described in words - the choir sang everything from Handel to you name it - and we never had less than 1 1 0 in the choir - the full orchestra played every service and I guarantee you one thing - Dr. C. LOVED IT LOUD...LOUD. LOUD!!! He always made a comment to the choir after the morning anthem right before his sermon and would actually say "Sopranos I love it when I see your tonsils splattered all over that back wall" - yep, we perfected the art of Triumphalism - he LOVED that choir and we all knew it - he would often sit there in tears when we sang Worthy is the Lamb from the Messiah - the man was simply a closet Anglican. He and (his Kentucky blue blooded wife)Betty spent two weeks in London EVERY August without fail buying antiques and fine art - she had impeccable taste and furnished the church parlor with over 2 million dollars worth of antiques!!! We felt like the church was in dire straights one year during the height of the "fundamentalist" take-over when the pledges "dipped" to 8 million!!! Pathetic...

But, we had folks quietly leaving the place - Dr. C was oblivious to the conservative control freaks around him who were determined to "buy out" the Southern Baptist Convention - which they literally did - men like Jack Pogue (he and his brother Mac owned Lincoln Properties) used his fortune to get close to Dr. C and dissassemble the entire denomination - we watched it all from behind the scenes. They cavorted with politicians in Washington - and by the way, look around you, what we are seeing now began in places like FBC Dallas in the late 70's and 80"s - there are brass plaques marking where presidents have sat on those old 1928 wooden pews...and I will never forget the Sunday I accompanied John Ashcroft at the organ as he sang one of his favorite solos...a real tear jerker!!!

(remember Martin Luther, he never intended for the reformation to become a "fundamentalist takeover" - but poor old John Calvin certainly seized the opportunity...) Historically, every political movement begins in the church...

That is just the tip of the iceberg - Russ's experiences in Fort Worth with fundamentalists are very similar to mine and he worked with a fundamentalist pastor who was having affars with 5 women simultaneously. Who ever said ministry was boring...

He and I have literally seen it all - I almost laughed out loud yesterday when Mother Linda asked us all - in her sermon - who were "those" people in the gospel lesson - "In a certain city there was a "judge" who neither feared God nor had respect for people". I just wanted to shout out loud "FUNDAMENTALIST CONTROL FREAKS, LEFT BRAIN CONSERVATIVES"---

( by the way we are also watching with great interest the life of Bishop Eddie Long in Atlanta - what will it take to wake up this country - if they are preaching against it they are doing it...duh...) moving right along...

One of my favorite stories about Dr. C. ...we were having a discussion in his intimate study surrounded by all that French furniture adorned with ormolu one day and he asked me why I did not "play music for us" he said I was just up there at that 5 manual console entertaining myself -- I responded thus, "Dr. C, there are 2000 people out there each service with many musical tastes, I intend to hit all of them at some time or other...

Then he leaned over that ornate desk and pointed his finger in my face and said..."Rick, ya gotta remember, 98 percent of those folks sitting out there are clods" ( am I making my point yet...)

I have seen great men in their darkest hours fighting against their own souls, watched them manipulate, coerce and rampage through the spiritual lives of unsuspecting, naive, gullible and needy people.

Then the leaders and thinkers just quietly ...leave.

Got that? Just wanted to make sure...

I have a beloved friend in Amarillo who taught English almost 40 years and says "today's politicians are bottom feeders, the leaders are all gone ..."

Now for my point - Russ and I have both seen the underbelly of the DFW religious and civic culture - it is purely cosmic - the buckle of the bible belt, fanatical, duplcitous, hypocritical and shallow., So what! Well, what do you expect - the leaders just disappear, slowly one by one. So slowly,

…we hardly know they are gone.

I actually had a recent conversation with Malouf Abraham about this phenomenon in the Panhandle - he said "well for one thing, Walmart moved in and slowly the leaders left".

St. Matthews has three dedicated men who have felt a "spiritual nudge" ( the word "calling" has lost it's meaning) to get busy in the kingdom and become spiritual leaders and priests --- I can say with all honesty - I have never met such astounding, witty and intelligent men. I actually said a couple of years ago in my annual report to the parish of St. Matthews that that congregation had always produced leaders, most of the great teachers and leaders of the community were members at St. Matthews.

This is a really BIG DEAL and the Diocese of NW Texas does not quite know what to do about this...tee hee - go guys!!!

Each week we try to bring a level of musical richness and vitality to the folks in Pampa.

We are not a timid, apathetic group - we just need a good shot in the arm.

There are people next door to us who need our " leadership" , our spiritual and "connective" vitality.

They will not come to us.

We have to make them feel wanted and it may take some very time consuming "discipleship" - amen rick

All Structures Are Unstable

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:14:48 -0700

ALL STRUCTURES ARE UNSTABLE
"Whatever form it takes, the unconscious drive behind ego is to strengthen the image of who I think I am, the phantom self that came into existence when thought- a great blessing as well as a great curse - began to take over and obscured the simple yet profound joy of connectedness with Being, the Source, God. Whatever behavior the ego manifests, the hidden motivating force is always the same; the need for power, for attention, for more. And, of course, the need to feel a sense of separation, that is to say, the need for opposition, enemies.

The ego always wants something from other people or situations. There is always a hidden agenda, always a sense of 'not enough yet.' of insufficiency and lack that needs to be filled. It uses people and situations to get what it wants, and even when it succeeds, it is never satisfied for long. Often it is thwarted in its aims, and for the most part the gap between 'I want" and 'what is' become a constant source of of upset and anguish. The famous and now classic pop song '(I Can't get no) Satisfaction' is the song of the ego.

The underlying emotion that governs all the activity of the ego is fear.

The fear that of being nobody, the fear of nonexistence, the fear of death. All it's activities are ultimately designed to eliminate this fear, but the most the ego can ever do is cover it up temporarily with an intimate relationship, a new possession, or winning this or that. Illusion will never satisfy you. Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.

Why fear? Because the ego arises by identification with form, and deep down it knows that no forms are permanent, that they are all fleeting. So there is always a sense of insecurity around the ego even if on the outside it appears confident.
As I was walking with a friend through a beautiful nature reserve near Malibu in California, we came upon the ruins of what had been once a country house, destroyed by fire
several decades ago. As we approached the property, long overgrown with trees and all kinds of magnificent plants, there was a sign by the side of the trail put there by the park authorities. It read: DANGER, ALL STRUCTURES ARE UNSTABLE. I said to my friend, 'that's a profound sutra (sacred scripture).' And we stood there in awe. Once you realize and accept that all structures (forms) are unstable, even the seemingly solid material ones, peace arises within you. This is because the recognition of the impermanence of all forms awakens you to the dimension of the formless within yourself, that which is beyond death. Jesus called it 'eternal life'.

from A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle - pp. 80-81

Art and Church

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:15:50 -0700

To me, art in worship is an absolute necessity. Each week I sit and ponder and ponder to find appropriate words to place here. I consider myself to be a true "renaissance man" but there are a few "sacred places" in my life that cannot be altered. Art and beauty in worship are two immovable facets of my very being.

I love Deep Elum in Dallas. It has become an eclectic haven for young people in their early 20's. The music, clothes, atmosphere and general mayhem is fascinating to watch. Several of my favorite restaurants are down there and the neighborhood also attracts a very unique group of people. I love the diversity, energy and sheer "bohemian" style of it all.

I have heard practically every contemporary artist you can think of. I love the music of this planet in all of it's enormous variety and complexity.

But, there is one place that is my particular "cosmic fortress", church. There has to be one place where I can "be" , where I can focus on reality, where I am able to stay "centered" in my consciousness. This wide wonderful world is full of energy - and there will always be folks who rant against this or that. Keep me away from them. I am just wired differently and admit it. We are here on this earth for such a short time. I know that some folks will gripe, complain and see nothing but terror, horror and fear. Other folks will only see beauty, love and hope. We all have to somehow coexist.

I posses one of the largest organ music libraries imaginable and will not live long enough to use it all. However, since I have become an Anglican, I have been able to focus my energies and time and affection on the most beautiful and most inspired music I possess. As I have said, I am drawn to the music of right brain musicians like myself. It is a level of musical apprehension that is like no other medium. But, occasionally I will render some left brain music for my dear friends who need it.

The subject of art and music are in a tailspin these days. We are approaching the literal end of a cosmic cycle in 2012. It is not the end of the world, good grief! We are seeing the demise of every institution that has held humanity together for the last several hundred years. This seems to be some sort of "mythological secret". Literalists are basically unable to see the world as it really is - in all of it's diversity and ongoing complexity. Most of my life has been spent in the company of literalists. One of my favorite stories is of staff meetings at FBC Dallas - we would spend hours and hours "pitching"new ideas to "win the lost", create a new program or find new ways to "grow" our individual "programs". We would often throw out hundreds of ideas to just get folks in the door! Our modus operandi was based on the fact that we constantly discussed the symptoms rather that the problem. On occasion I would actually say, at the end of a meeting, "now that we have wasted all this time discussing a whole lot of symptoms, can we discuss the problem next week". The problem was this, we actually believed that is was OUR responsibility to SAVE people. And we probably lured a whole lot of left brain people who needed strong parameters and theological "barbed wire".

We will always need great art that is inspired and comes from right brain individuals who are the "liberals" of our time. We also need art that is created by people who live on the opposite spectrum of human thinking. Conservative practice never produced great art, medical, scientific or educational achievement. You have to be willing to think and analyze and ponder and question and seek and confront and create and adjust and re-establish and reform and critically throw out everything that becomes irrelevant and useless, but to recognize uselessness one must be able to KNOW WHAT HAS BECOME USELESS.