What Does it Matter?

The recent media splash of "Is it Jesus' tomb" is much to do about nothing. I have never understood the need to prove Jesus existed by scientific method. My faith in Jesus as the risen Son of God is not dependent on rigid fact. As a matter of fact, if everything is proven about Jesus faith is no longer faith. It becomes a human bound ridged ritual.

For me, by definition faith is belief in realities that can not be proven by the limits of human nature. The human need to know everything about God within the limits of our limited sense of reality and in turn making a small God, is an attempt to displace the one God with a human god of the self.

If I remember correctly there are a number of stories in the first eleven chapters of Genesis that speak to the human desire to control God and to become god. The truth and reality of God is our inability to understand God, to have someone greater that the self to trust.

One of the many sad parts of the "tomb of Jesus media event" is that the people that are recruited to speak for "people of faith" by the media are as rigid and ridiculous as the people who are trying to present reality as they see it.

The blow hard that was on Larry King last night has done more to drive people away from faith than any empirical evidence given by the film makers. If there was ever a person that represent what a "christian" is not to be like it would be this guy. I have seen him on a number of shows but I have been outraged and embarrassed by what he says that I can never remember his name.

I know that media want caustic and irrational guests to bump up ratings and a level headed thinking Christian does not make good TV.

In the end I matters not what someone digs out of the ground or spews on TV, as Paul wrote, Love (God) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all thinks. Love (God) never ends.

In this world today a person has to believe this because there is no prof that God is and I don't want any.

Winter Funk

Every year I become very grumpy from about the middle of January to the middle of February. The problem is, particularly for Wife, is that I don't remember this happens every year until about the middle of February.

Two nights ago the realization of my annual grumpiness occurred to me as if it was new information. I have internally blamed it on a number of thing:

• Started getting meds by mail and one of my meds is a generic instead of name brand I had been taking. (did not know there was genetic available until it arrived in the mail)


• The many piles of paper at work that need to be addressed but I keep getting new work assignments which means routine work gets put off and piled up.


• Started working out at gym three times a week.


• Stress at church, over resistance to welcoming new members. Actually reaching out instead of expecting them to walk in the door at a church five mile from nearest highway and 1/4 mile from nearest house.

But in the end it is just the February funk. Realizing that it is what it is makes it some strange way go away.

A Second Scoop of Coal

The heat is not working in the office today and I feel like Bob Cratchit. My hands are cold and I am thinking about cutting the tips of my glove fingers off to be a able to warm my hands and still do my work. I am huddled by a space heater working on reviewing self-studies and making travel arraignments. All I need is a waist coat and a bottle of ink and I could be in the mid-19th century.

Just think I was in New Orleans two days ago in 70 degree weather eating "King Cake." I got the piece with the baby in it both times I eat a piece. I now owe them two cakes.

Got a tour of New Orleans it still looks like they got coal in their stocking this year.

Molly Ivins

On the way to work today I heard that Molly Ivins died. A sadness came over me. I was sadder that I would have imagines about someone I had only heard and read. I heard a report of her death on the way home and had the same feeling. I heard her voice in an interview and was with the feeling in the chest and everything.

I took my pills this morning, I did. I shouldn't be feeling this way.

I as though about my reaction I realized that she was (almost typed is)one of the few people, in my experience, who speak the truth to power was gone. A reporter who said it like she saw it. Her comment had the ring of truth.

Part of my sadness is knowing that she will be replaced by the Nancy Graces' and Anderson Cooper's. Who will not risk the truth unless it helps their careers.

Who will speak the truth and is in a position to know the difference between truth and hype?