I sermonized...

I did my first sermon on Sunday night and this is a taste of what I talked about. Okay, it's actually the whole thing written out.  And yes, I talk a bit about quantum mechanics, buddhism, string theory. You name it, I talked about it. But I didn't go into HUGE details as I had to tailor what I was saying to an audience who may or may not be familiar with some of this stuff. So, here it is! Enjoy!

Two months ago I was visiting my mother in Florida. One evening, as I was putting away my photo equipment and getting ready to make a trek to Orlando to see Mickey Mouse, I received this text message: "November 21^st, you’re preaching." Um… okay. Then I got the second text after I’d asked what I was supposed to preach about, “it’s between and God.” My reply to my church's Senior Pastor was: So, you’re going to mediate between the two of us right? No response… Two hours later, I grabbed my cell-phone, and still no response. At that point I knew that it was definitely going to be between me and the Big Guy. But like with every else I do, I shelved it, so I could deal with it later. I mean, it was the end of September, I had plenty of time.

So about mid October, I started looking at the lectionary. The lectionary is this book, kind of like a workbook that gives you guidelines and recommended scripture to preach about. And what do I read? This scripture! Boy! Talk about a BIG topic. Christ our King is dying on the cross, between two criminals. Seriously? I’m supposed to hash out some meaning from this VERY meaningful moment, this moment that pretty much defines Christianity? So, I was like, I have to do something else, so I asked our Associate Pastor Joe for some kind of scripture that would speak to me. He gave me great scriptures! No offense for not using them. And then I went to our Senior Pastor, and was like, Luke isn’t speaking to me, I’m just not feeling it. He then gave me the best advice ever, “sometimes you have to question why it doesn’t speak to you.” Of course, obviously! He went on and on about something as he generally does, but I knew where I was going to go with this scripture.

I like to refer to myself as a Historian (technically, I’m one paper away from that title) The one thing we as Historians always have to do is look at context, context, context! Professor Louis Potts was my favorite instructor at UMKC and he always begged us to ask just one more time, why? Why did things happen in a certain way to make history take a turn for the good or in many cases, the bad.

There are a lot of questions to ask about this man who we call our King, who will lead us to the Kingdom of God or Heaven. I don’t know about the rest of you, but as Americans, we’re not really all that accepting of Kings. In 1789, the French common people stormed the Bastille, released political prisoners, and then ultimately ended up cutting off their King’s head and anyone who was in support of this really “corrupt” monarchy. We’re very anti-monarchy, anti-king in our society.  But here’s the oxymoron of the situation. We look at Christ, he’s dying on a cross, among criminals… and we think, what King is this? We want a powerful King, especially if he is supposed to rule alongside God.

And I think this is where a lot of us get a little mixed up and where a lot of us have our faith waver. Why, if God is SO powerful, does he not SAVE his only SON. Not only has his son been condemned to death, but he has been condemned to a very public and humiliating death. Why would God do this? Why would God let somebody, who is so good, who has been His steward, HIS OWN SON die like this? Why does it seem that the bad people always get off? This is a question that many of us ask when our loved ones die. It is one of the questions we ask, and when we don’t understand, our faith can be destroyed.

I’m one of those people, the majority of my friends are those people whose faith has wavered. Our society has told us to question everything, and I honestly don't believe it's such a bad thing to question our lives.  I think as humans, we have this innate sense to look for truth in our world. When we question God in this manner many of us start to lose that faith as God as Omnipotent, or that the world came into creation randomly. I’ve taken philosophy, I’ve learned how to question things in a scholarly manner.  When I first fell away from God was when the whole thing just wasn’t making sense. Obviously, the old testament has stories that were familiar to the ancient Samarians. The Epic of Gilgamesh tells many of the same creation stories… so our book isn't original, we appear to be copycats. Thousands of years later at the council of Nicaea in 325, Bishops got together with Emperor Constantine to decide on the divinity of Jesus… and they came up with our current understanding of the Trinity!  MAN decided on the Trinity??? I had read the history books before when I was younger, but I had never really questioned anything. So here I was, a Christian at 24 years old, and I had lost my faith. It appeared to me that MAN had created God to satisfy his qualms with society.  I was really afraid that everything that my grandparents and parents had told me, was some big lie… that we were all being fooled. So, I lost my faith.

However, I kept the back door open and told myself, if God wants me to believe, he’ll find a way to bring me back. I kept coming to church, looking for truth. I also looked for truth in Hinduism, Quantum Mechanics, Buddhism, and Islam. Islam made me look at God differently and placed Isa (Jesus) as a very important prophet. Based on all my readings, I could get behind the Prophet Jesus before I could accept him as the Son of God. 

But in all honesty, it was Buddhism and Quantum Mechanics that really tested my faith and made me see that reality isn’t always what it seems. Buddhism taught me that everything is connected. I am connected to all of you in this room in some way or another. Our lives influence one another. It taught me that even though this pew right here is inanimate, it was once alive, it has brought a place for us to rest. And ultimately, there is another human being or human beings that brought this bench into fruition. To me it is overwhelmingly awe inspiring that, through this one pew, so many souls are connected. And then Quantum Physics. In it's most basic definition, QP is the study of alternate realities that we exist in at the same time, but on different planes. I’m not going to go into the mathematical part of it, but instead focus on how string theory brought me back into God’s movement. Like with Buddhism, we are all connected, but through invisible strings. We’re connected to everything, the earth, the planets, the stars, the Big Bang. 

I like to tell people that question my belief in God, that he or she has a scientific name, e=mc2!  I always get the same argument from them, "so God is energy?" Me: "YES! Very much so!" The contestor: "But energy is mathematically definable, God cannot be defined that way. So you’re saying that God basically lit a match and caused this Big Bang to happen?" I always have to clarify, God is omnipotent, I’m not about to explain how it happened. The Big Bang is still considered a “theory” and it is widely accepted by scientists as being a manifestation of energy. And if you ask me, that energy is the most omnipotent power that has ever been unleashed. And through all my studying, and reasoning and rationalizing, there is only one truth that has emerged: God is energy. He is as real as the energy I create when I clap my hands, or snap my fingers, or stomp my feet. 

Everything in our world has been set in motion and it is God who did this. 

I remember the day I let God back into my life. I was in Fort Lauderdale at my Dad's apartment trying to sleep on a pull out sofa bed.  Finally after tossing and turning for several hours, I turned on the tv. Luckily, PBS was airing a repeat of a documentary titled, "Einstein's Big Idea," at 3am. I felt those invisible strings that String theory talks about, and felt my ultimate connection to the universe and God. I knew from that moment on, that everything was put into motion, and that I was part of something much larger than just random cosmology. 

And here, today Joe read to you that Christ has fallen among criminals. The leaders are chiding him to save himself, but the criminal to his right, asks Jesus to remember him. Jesus says to him that today he will be in paradise with him. While the crowd questions his claim as the Messiah, he dies among mere humans. This isn’t the man that we would generally look to, to be our King… We want somebody strong, somebody who can save himself… instead we get a Leader who dies in one of the most shameful ways. How can He deliver us into Paradise?

I recently took a Saturday class at the Seminary about the parables and the focus was to put them into historical context. As a historian, this was fantastic for me.  Most of the time, when we read the parables in church, we look at them and how they relate to our lives and how we can apply them in our daily activities when we are in relationship with others.  I love how Luke writes about Jesus’ teachings. Jesus will begin his parable, The kingdom of God is like this, or is it as that.  This kind of interpretation is important to make sense of our lives, but it is also important to remember the time in which these stories were told. 

We’ve learned in church since childhood, that our treasure of not of this life, but in the kingdom of God. So, we’re always striving to be good in this life so Jesus will remember us and allow us into paradise. However, what we forget is this, this Kingdom is not something we will encounter in the future, it is something that we live right now. Patrick, this morning called it "the movement of God."  And it is exactly that, it is includes all people into God’s world, a just world, a world that can be on earth as it is in heaven. Last night I watched a documentary on the History channel about the Ten Commandments. Most of know, that on Mt. Sinai, Moses was given over 600 laws for the Israelites, and we know this even more if we’ve read the book of Leviticus. We look at those laws and are like, those are ridiculous, how can we apply these to our lives now? 

We often forget that the Jews during the time of Jesus were asking themselves the same questions. It is through the parables that Jesus turns the law on its head. Through his teachings, he lets us in on a little secret, it’s through our relationship with one another and through Him that we become part of this movement.

It’s like in string theory, there is this invisible line that connects us to one another and any tension placed on it brings us closer together. That’s what Jesus has done, he came into this world by God’s word, and created that tension. He allowed us to question God’s omnipotence. Why would God allow his son to die in humiliation upon a cross between two criminals? And the answer is truly simple: God sent his son, his spirit onto the earth to witness the human condition first hand. He feels our pain when we suffer because he knows, he has been on that cross. Our heaven, as I understand it, is of this earth, and our earth is part of heaven. It is through Jesus, our King, that we are one with God and He is one with us.

Bandanas BBQ=Vegetarian Friendly!

Being a vegetarian and having meat eater friends who created a blog to review Barbeque restaurants in the Kansas City Metro area would make one think that one friend would be left out in the dining experience. As a former meat-eater, as many of us vegetarians are, our mouths still water when we smell our former favorite meats being cooked. For me, anytime I drive by a Gates BBQ, I remember the days of Burnt Ends on Bun, or when I was trying to be health conscience, Turkey on Bun.  These days, if I go to Gates, I'm relegated to eating ONLY french fries. If I liked cole slaw I would eat that. Generally, if I go to Gates, I end up dipping bread and fries into the Sweet n Tangy sauce.


Today I looked up Bandana's website and this is what I was confronted with, "Bandana's is a barbeque restaurant, that is what we are all about, and consistency is the key.  You will not find hamburgers, fish or pasta entrees on our menu.  What you will find is the best Southern Style smoked barbeque pork, beef, chicken, ribs, turkey and sausage you have ever tasted." 


Gasp! One of my favorite BBQ restaurants in KC is Jackstack because they have salmon. Fish is about the only meat I eat these days and if barbeque is the destination, I pray and hope for at least salmon. 


Luckily, I went blindly into Bandana's last night with my friends, otherwise I would have missed out on their vegetarian options. However, all those options are found on the Sides Menu. And here is what you can eat:


1. Hot Boiled Peanuts: I remember driving from Boca Raton, Florida to Alabama for my great-uncle's 90th birthday 5 years ago. Upon entering Georgia and Alabama there were signs all along the back roads for Boiled Peanuts. It just didn't seem right, but after last night, it is definitely RIGHT!  You would never expect peanuts boiled to softness in salt water would taste so good. We ordered only one bowl to divide between seven adults, I could have eaten that by myself, but there was much more on the menu to choose from.
2. Fried Corn on the Cob: didn't eat it, but it sounds good. I like to fry frozen corn when I make Tacos, so I'm sure this probably tastes similar. However, I think a deep fryer may be involved in this process.
3. Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Fries... no need for explanation. I'm not a fan really of any of those sides.
4. Baked Potato: a potato with cheese and sour cream is meal enough. I had this and added the Barbeque sauce and I was SA-TIS-FIED! 
5. And now for my favorite: Fried Okra. Of all southern foods, I love Okra most of all. They make the perfect dipper and yes, I tried EVERY barbeque sauce with that okra. Not only did I eat mine, but I finished up John's as well. 
6. There are other items on the sides menu, but they all contain meat... so I didn't try any of those.


But the star of the show of any barbeque restaurant is the BBQ sauce. Bandanas for the most part boasts their dry-rub meats that are smoked for 14 hours. The meat comes out without any sauce on them, but each table has four to choose from: Sweet and Smoky, Chicago style, Kansas City style and Spicy. 


Most everyone enjoyed the Spicy the most, but I thought it was kind of bland with the typical mustard base flavor. And it wasn't really spicy either. Chicago and Kansas City lacked any real oomph (oh my goodness, my mac says that's actually a word). When it comes to food, I enjoy things that are highly flavorful. That's why my favorite foods are generally ethnic, especially Indian, Ethiopian and Vietnamese. The undertones in certain foods also capture my attention, the only way I can describe it, is "musky." I like foods that kind of have an aged taste. So, my favorite was by far the sweet and smoky. First of all there is the punch of the sweet followed by the undertone of the smoke.  For me it was BBQ perfection. I like it when food, or in this case sauce, can keep my palette dancin'! 


Luckily I didn't have to deal with tough meat or fatty pieces and enjoyed my visit to Bandana's immensely. I also think the company of my friends made my evening one of the best I've had in a long time. So for the vegetarians in the world who enjoy Barbeque as much as I do, I recommend this restaurant. You don't have to feel awkward in a sea of meat-eaters. You can enjoy it just as much and probably more. You don't walk away with that heavy feeling that often accompanies devouring animal flesh!


Bon apetit mes amis! I can't wait to eat some more BBQ.


Oh my goodness, I almost forgot to mention the hot donut holes served fresh from the fryer. Deep fried goodness sprinkled with powdered sugar to complete the meal. I ran out of the place so as to not eat more!

This is the town of Halloween!

"This is Halloween! This is Halloween"



One of the dates I look forward to the most every year is Halloween. As a general rule, I look forward to any occasion where I get to go outside my normal everyday life and dress up as somebody or something different. Dressing up to me is allowing myself the opportunity to break outside of the daily routine of life. Structure works best for me, but having that day, that moment to do something completely different is an occasion I look forward to all year and don't take lightly.

Recently I was hired by the church I am a member of, as the new secretary. Let it be known right here that I am not a fan of that title, so I changed it to Office Coordinator. However, I'm thinking that I should have just kept the title of the 5 hour per week job I had before as as Communications Coordinator. Technically, I keep everybody informed of what's going on. My main job duty is to assist the Pastor, but I think it is so much more. Besides, our Pastor is loopy when he's not preaching and is beyond any help I can give him!!! (I'm hoping he reads this)  So as part of my job as Connections Coordinator, I organized a BIG Halloween Party in the church basement and a Trunk or Treat.  Luckily it was a huge success! At least 200+ kids! I'm not trying to brag because had I done a better job, I could have persuaded more of our church members to decorate their trunks and come out to give goodies to the kids. Because of the success though, I have had several members tell me how next year, they think more people will show up owing to how big it was this year. And it's not like I did anything really spectacular, I just put out these two HUGE signs that said Trunk or Treat, Friday 6:30-8... seriously, that's it!

Halloween is a fun festivity, but now that I work for the church, I am seeing that many Christians are very much against it. I received several e-mail forwards from unsolicited crazies (random mail comes in all the time) referencing Halloween as being a "Celebration of Evil." We are teaching children to partake in the occult and to worship Satan because of it's pagan origin!  Seriously? Are these people nuts?  I didn't see any witchcraft or animal sacrifices at church Friday night, nor on Halloween night itself.  Halloween, like many Christian holidays has its' roots in ancient Pagan practices.  Mistletoe does too, just fyi, but we seem to love to put those things out at Christmas time. Come Christmas, I'll have some things to say about it too.

I'm going to give a brief, and very brief summary of how we came to celebrate Halloween. If you REALLY want to see it, follow the Pagan link or the Fundie link.

Okay, so we have the Roman Catholic missionaries going into the Celtic lands where they worshipped false Gods. I am a Christian, but not a hard-core fundamentalist that is going to tell you that every word in the Bible is word for word truth. But as a Christian, I can tell you one thing, like most ancient societies, and even modern society, there is something all humanity is looking for; truth.  The Celts saw the turning of the weather in late October as a time when things were dying, or a time when death was near at hand and was influencing their way of life.  This death killed crops and brought illness that would often lead to death. This time of year as we all know, those of us living in more northern regions, is gloomy, rainy and cold; and we have to harvest and preserve our bounty for the long winter months to maintain our survival. Logically then, the Celts had much to fear. During the festival of Samhain, the Druid priests would offer animal, fruit, vegetable sacrifices to the god. The wearing of masks and the performing of spells and incantations were meant to keep the spirits of the dead at bay.  Humanity is always looking for answers and to the Celts, this was their answer.

With the introduction of Christianity, the missionaries had to find a way to make the transition easier. The reason we celebrate Christmas when we do is owed in large part to festivals honoring the re-birth of the Sun-God. It's no coincidence that one of the most important Christian holidays falls just after the winter solstice.

So for the Celts, All Saints Day was created. In the church, All Saints Day is a day when all those who have died are honored. Our belief in Christianity is that when we die, we become Saints. Not all Saints are commemorated with a special day like St. John (the Baptist) or St. (Mother) Teresa, so this is the day that we dedicate to all of them.  Halloween comes from "All Hallows Eve," Hallow meaning to Sanctify.  It makes perfect sense to place All Saints Day on November 1st.  October 31st, to the Celts, was the day when they recognized that death was an inevitable part of life. Their attempt to keep it away during the winter months was in their way, a way to understanding their world. And death is a truth that we as humans all have to live with.

On Sunday, Patrick said something interesting right before his sermon, "Halloween is a day when we mock death." I don't know if I'd use the word mock, but I would definitely say it's a day when we are highly aware of what death is and what it means.  In Christianity, it is the passing from our earthly lives into that of our Lord and Savior. Death in truth is sad, it can be torturous, it can seem like our lives will never be the same.  But death happens and it is Halloween and All Saints Day that remind us of what death really is.  It is when we get to sit at the Heavenly banquet with those who have gone before us.

Acknowledging the past is always crucial, but having it burden your life is futile. So, Halloween's Celtic past is not what Christians would deem truth, but it is a reminder of a time when humanity was searching for a truth. A truth that would eventually be delivered.  I think remembering that the missionaries came up with a way to transition these old religions into a new one is better than how it was done in the Inquisition.  I'm sure there were many Celts who met their demise in a more sinister way than through the transition introduced by the missionaries. It must be said that creating a day to celebrate our loved ones who have died, is more humane. And it is ultimately more in tune with what Jesus said about loving your neighbor as you would love yourself. When you love those, even those who think differently than you or who have different religious views and customs, you are ultimately showing your love towards Jesus.

So, I say celebrate Halloween! Dress up, get candy, be something you never thought you could be.  Remember it's history entrenched in Paganism, but most importantly, remember how the word of the Lord could be shared, and how it still can be.