Sunday at Faith

I will be preaching at Faith Baptist Church in Kaiserslautern, Germany of July 8, 2007. Several people have ask what I will preach about. I am going to preach my favorite sermon from Psalm 137. The idea was back "then" that all of these American Baptist Christians had found themselves in Germany and they just didn't like it. Hence the responsibility of "singing the Lord's song in a foreign land." This sermon will talk about all of the ways they sang the song at Faith.

Toronto Daily News - 'Massive' Bomb Found in London - A bomb was found in an abandoned car in London's theatre district of Haymarket on Friday.

Toronto Daily News - 'Massive' Bomb Found in London - A bomb was found in an abandoned car in London's theatre district of Haymarket on Friday.

This is a chilling story! Not the first and probably not the last. I could be wrong but had the US and GB not invaded Iraq these perhaps these threats would be minimal? Just my opinion.

Oma, Mother, Daughter
Three generations. Looks like they get
bigger with each generation.

What a beautiful picture!
The two pictures are of the same lady. Diane's friend Allison from New Zealand.

Maya's picture

And what about me? That silly girl
Bella has a blog story. Why not
me?

I am Annette's cat. My name is Maya Angeloe. I have been left here for
almost two years, but I am looking forward
to my freedom in just a few more months!

WooHoo ;)

Bella ... Angela's Cat!

God has blessed Diane and my self with beautiful animal loving children!
And they have no problem leaving their animals at our house! Bella is
just a baby and is into everything!


Are you talking to me?



But you can see how cute I am.

They can be fun at times.

Diane in Australia 2007

Walking Along the River



A cup of tea with some friends



Freemantle?



Funny Trees

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

Could it be that good things are beginning to happen within the SBC. The tenacious grip of the far right "neo-cons" like Paige Patterson, Albert Mohler, et al is being loosened. This is good news maybe the SBC can come back to the place where it is engaged in missions, gospel preaching and out of the business of baptizing people into the Republican party. Jim Evans, a syndicated columnist, also serves as pastor of Auburn First Baptist Church in Auburn, Ala., has written another eye opening column and well worth reading.

For Family Members Planning to Return to Houston

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

Ten Commandments for Driving in Houston Ed Hogan06-21-07
The pope has given a list of "Ten Commandments" for driving, warning against sins of road rage, drinking and driving and even being rude. Taking them in the spirit in which they were given, this Baptist preacher can't help but wonder what the list would be if the Vatican was in the city where I live, Houston, Texas.
Read the article here. I am not sure if its tongue in cheek. I have driven a few times in Houston, got hit by a bus once!, and it is indeed a scary and daunting proposition.

Do Southern Baptists Really Support 'Biblical' Marriage?

Read this article from by clicking on the link above. Miques De La Torre has written a thought provoking essay in response to Paige Patterson homemaking course at SWBTS> Here are some excerpts:

"God bless you Paige Patterson! It is men of courage like you who will save the Southern Baptist Convention and the nation.
For far too long, our faith and our nation have taken an unbiblical turn when it comes to marriage. Your wisdom and insight in providing an academic program to train women how to make a Christian home is long overdue.

You are right, Paige. Traditional marriage as now defined by Western culture does not have biblical roots. It is incongruent with what is spelled out in the biblical text.

In fact, it would be hard to find a modern-day Christian who does abide by a truly biblical marriage in practice, for the biblical understanding of marriage meant male ownership of women who existed for his pleasure
But, Paige, why stop with marriage? Why doesn't the seminary hold classes on how to treat slaves? There are multiple biblical references on how believers are to humanely treat their slaves.

Just because our secular society abolished slavery in the mid-19th century and Jim Crow in the mid-20th century doesn't mean that Bible-believing Christians must do likewise.

If the Bible advocates slavery, then by golly, so should the SBC! After all, wasn't our denomination started over this very issue? "

Enjoy This Cartoon

Internet-Spa� auf www.piep001.de

I found this on the "daily dish" and thought I would share it with all of you world travellers. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/ Click on the title.

Baptist Seminary Homemaking Classes for Wives to Rescue Culture, Church

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary moves from the ridiculous to the sublime. Teaching women how to be women, wives and mothers. And offering a seminary degree in same. Read the article and try to control your gag reflex. Here is a brief sample:

Christian homemaking will save the Southern Baptist Convention and the nation, according to the president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, one of the nation's largest training schools for pastors.
Paige Patterson announced at the SBC meeting in San Antonio that his school was offering an academic program to train women how to make a Christian home.

Yes, there is evidently a Christian way for wives to water houseplants, wash clothes, warm leftovers and wax floors.

Having made June Cleaver the biblical model for motherhood, training the wives of ministers to be June Cleaver with a Christian twist shouldn't have come as a surprise.

Heaven help us! What is this "flagship" of SBC seminary education doing? Paige Patterson wants us to give all of our young boys guns and dogs so that can become great hunters. Albert Mohler thinks none of the boys should remain unmarried beyond the age of 17 ot 18 but should get about the business of impregnating their submissive wives! Stupidity upon stupidity.

Jesus Was a Homeless Bum

Jesus Was a Homeless Bum

You might find this an interesting read and the picture is neat.

Robertson Does it again

Media Matters - Robertson: "Islam is not a religion. It is a worldwide political movement meant on domination" Pat Robertson and all preachers who have a jihad against Islam are kooks. They should check out all of these right wing dominionist who want to impose "Christian law" on the nation. I have no idea which group would be bigger, Islam extremist or Christian extremist, but I certainly would not want to painted with the same brush that paints Christian extremists!

Print Story: A pious nation? on Yahoo! News

Print Story: A pious nation? on Yahoo! News

This is a very interesting article as to whether or not America is a Christian Nations. The article seems to suggest that America is Christian in on only in the rhetoric of right-wing Christians who are trying to rewrite history. Here is a short excerpt.

Let's start with violence, a phenomenon hard to square with New Testament teachings about living in peace and Old Testament commandments not to kill one another. For all our virtues, we are beyond doubt a violent society, inundated by weapons, murders and pop culture glorification of violence to a degree unmatched by other First World nations.

The massacre at Virginia Tech this spring might seem an extreme case. Defenders of gun rights warn against overreaction, claiming that mass shootings, however horrific, are quite rare. In truth, Virginia Tech-style massacres happen every day, albeit in less dramatic form. Statistics show that gun violence kills close to 30,000 people a year in America, or about 80 a day - more than double the number slain in Blacksburg, Va. Is this what one should expect of a country guided by Jesus, the "Prince of Peace"?

Then there is the violence projected by our government. Here, too, it is impossible to claim that America is a peaceful nation in the image of Christ. Under the Bush administration, the United States has pursued an aggressive foreign policy and a war in Iraq that theologians struggle to justify with Christian doctrines about morally defensible war. Certainly, the case can be made that dangerous forces left our government with no choice but to fight. But the question must be raised again: Is our behavior as a nation consistent with our ostensibly Christian character?

You will really want to read the whole article. Please read and comment.

My Travels

Video on Demand | Deutsche Welle

Video on Demand | Deutsche Welle

This is a link to Deutsche Welle. A whole series of English language programs. The first on the list is "Discover Germany" and is very interesting (to me). Gives a tour of many highlights ending with a study of the Bamberg and her bells. The last article on the list is on "Faith" it is a great discussion of Jews, Christians and Muslims as they co-exist in peace in the City of Frankfurt. Someone, who has students studying German, might want to pass along some of this stuff ... albeit all in English. Just My Opinion.

I am the President

Listen to this piece about our crazy President.

That's what I am talking about

U.S. health care is bad for your health

Here is a short excerpt from this must be read article.

"Compared to the other countries studied, the United States lags behind in the adoption of information technology and other national policies that promote quality improvement. Up-to-date information systems in countries such as New Zealand, Germany and the United Kingdom enhance physicians' ability to monitor chronic conditions and medication use, including medications prescribed by other physicians. In other countries, experienced nurses are working to monitor chronic conditions, thus easing the physicians' burden.

The United States also ranks last among the countries studied, both in terms of efficiency and equity. The United States has poor performance on national health expenditures and administrative costs. In terms of equity, Americans with below-average income were more reluctant to visit a physician when sick, and more often did not get a recommended test, fill a prescription or undergo a needed treatment or seek a proper follow-up on a condition.

Only a thorough reform can solve the U.S. health care system's deep structural problems. It is imperative that everyone is adequately insured and has the possibility to afford good care. At the same time, the United States must make sure to incorporate the advantages of modern health information technology and to ensure an integrated medical record and information system."

Diane is OFF

Saturday, June 2, 2007. Here is a great picture of Diane
as she departs for the airport in New Orleans. You
will note the teacup in hand. I meant to take more pictures but
left my camera in the car.
She called us from
the gate in New Orleans,
the gate in Dallas,
the gate in San Francisco.

She is well and truly on her way!