Random Thoughts as 2007 draws to a close

I'm reading, Why the Right is Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis. Highly recommended book and I'm only on page 50. He has me wondering why the religious right is so strong on abortion and gay marriage but doesn't breathe a word about the poor. Or for that matter about social justice. Micah writes about social justice, Matthew records the words of Jesus dealing with the poor but it seems the only issues that matter to Christians who are Republicans are the two mentioned earlier. Is it possible that neither party is right and we need to hold both political parties to a higher standard? Is it possible we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard? We like the good life, don't bother us with difficult details. Abortion and gay marriage are easy opponents, we don't like to kill the innocent, except in wars (just and unjust); Scripture talks of homosexual sin so gay marriage is easy but how to treat the poor, that may cost us in the wallet.

A Christmas family gathering left a group us talking about about current issues. One guy sits on the board of the local grain elevator and was telling us about wheat trading for $10 a bushel and they are sitting on 400,000 bushels so the manager started calling his usual clients to sell. Not one needed a single bushel of wheat . . . . how can wheat be selling for $10 a bushel if the supply is exceeding the demand? Is our whole commodities trading a farce? Is our stock market a farce? Does the constant profit taking distract us from real problems at home and abroad? Do I spend more time worrying about my meager investments than how my government treats the poor?

Stuber Christmas 2007

My love to all for tolerating the attached video. Since I took the clips you must endure the "Super 8" effect used to create the final product. Our family concluded the night with the final Advent Service conducted at FUMC Peoria. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name Him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

I also found the following prayer from our service particularly meaningful: "Christ Jesus, humble shepherds found You in a stable. Come to us, so that we may advance towards the brightness of Your Presence, hidden within us. And our hearts can say to You: Jesus, my joy, my hope, my life. Amen!" Merry Christmas to all!

Schurter Christmas

December 22, 2007 It was nearly 60 today and we are gathering the Henry Schurter central Illinois family together for Christmas. Tim and Angie have traveled 12 hours to be with us. The oldest is my 90 year old dad and youngest is a great-grandchild who is in fourth grade. What a wonderful season, as our world fights various conflicts, dad fights to zip a zipper on a new coat. My sister-in-law graciously helps dad get the coat on in the midst of a group of people waiting to open their presents. I think Jesus arrived in a world full of conflict, He arrived in a stable setting and was so feared that many youngsters were put to death to try and eliminate who He would become. May all your families have a wonderful Christmas season. May Jesus bring peace and reconciliation to your family.

Serving With Eyes Wide Open

The following is from David Livermore's book: Serving With Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-term Missions With Cultural Intelligence. Stats only today:

1. 178,000 convert to Christianity daily;
2. 28,000 conversions occur in China each day;
3. Indonesia, largest Islamic country in the world, one million per year convert to Christianity;
4. India, 100,000 per month convert to Christianity.

Why do most Americans seem to think Christianity is not growing? It is currently the fastest growing world religion. Christianity has a 6.9% growth rate compared with 2.7% for Islam.
Something to think about since the U.S. is not experiencing these things like the rest of the world.

When, where and how

I was awake early (3:45 a.m.) and those numbers on the clock are extremely clear when you would prefer to be asleep. Too many things racing about the brain. Another opportunity to take people to Brazil is facing Vicki and I. We believe we have the "when" question addressed but where to turn for the best ticket price and how to procure those tickets is another issue. The on-line sites limit the number of tickets so you have to do the purchase with someone else. It's amazing how complicated our lives have become.
By the way, the image is of river shrimp for sale at the market in Altamira. It's amazing how strong the desire to return has become.