Sociological Phenomenon: "25 Random Things"

The newest facebook pass around is “25 Random Things” about a person that we wouldn’t know otherwise. After the person lists the 25 things we probably didn’t want or need to know anyway…they “tag” 25 people, who are suppose to do their list. So as you can imagine this has taken on a growth rate faster then the deadliest form cancer we know of. In the last 4 days I have been “tagged” 12 times.

A friend of mine noted today on facebook, this has become some kind of social phenomena. He wrote in his notes,

“Not only am I getting repeatedly tagged in the 25 Random Things meme (which is only fair, since I tagged 25 people when I wrote my own list), I'm now starting to see news stories about 25 Random Things. It looks like those of us who have succumbed to this online diversion are now part of a bona fide sociological phenomenon. Or maybe it's just a slow news week.

Google "Facebook 25 Random Things" and click on News, and you'll get 159 news stories, as of this writing.”

Now I have not googled the 159 news stories, so what I am about to do has probably already been done. However, this latest fad of the Internet has reminded me of why I really hate these kinds of things. Everything from sending out false and scary e-mails about any number of things (so many of these in fact we have websites to tell what is true and what is bogus), to sending out sappy alleged true stories to break your heart… to playing on peoples instinct to pry into somebody else’s business and then believe we actual know something about that person.

So I am going to give everyone who reads this “25 Random Reasons” why it is a waste of time to tag me with this stuff or send me stuff to pass on to 25 people in the next 15 minutes for good fortune to come my way. Oh yea, before anyone comments that I am being a spoiled sport, please know this is meant with tongue firmly planted in cheek, with an occasional dose of “reverendbitch, sir” truth. Without further delay, my 25 random reasons for not playing tag:

25. In the time it takes to do the list I could play 2 playstation NHL hockey games.

24. In the time it takes to do the list I could play with my two dogs that have not seen me all day.

23. In the time it takes to do the list I could have been outside talking to my neighbor and finding out about things around the neighborhood that matter.

22. In the time it takes to do the list I could have called and chatted with my Mom.

21. In the time it takes to do the list I could have had an instant message chat with my nephew and my niece.

20. In the time it takes to do the list I could have cleaned my bird cages and fed them.

19. In the time it takes to do the list I could have made love to my husband.

18. In the time it takes to do the list I could have attempted to pay bills.

17. In the time it takes to do the list I could have the dishes washed and put away.

16. In the time it takes to do the list I could actually exercise.

15. In the time it takes to do the list I could wash my truck.

14. In the time it takes to do the list I could get caught up on real e-mail.

13. In the time it takes to do the list I could read something that actually matters. Also, if this is the 5th list you read today...you have already stopped reading.

12. In the time it takes to do the list I could write a sermon or two.

11. In the time it takes to do the list I could write a blog that is more meaningful then this one.

10. In the time it takes to do the list I could talk or chat with 5 people in the flesh that would just astound me with their wealth of knowledge and talents.

9. In the time it takes to do the list I could do 2 hospital visits.

8. In the time it takes to do the list I could make a dent in the stack of reading for my job that has stacked up.

7. In the time it takes to do the list I could spend quality time with someone I love.

6. In the time it takes to do the list, I already know if someone wants me to know something they will tell me when we get together.

5. In the time it takes to do the list, I already know if I want to know something about someone…I will ask when we are together.

4. In the time it takes to do the list I know that if you work out the math this is going to take more time responding and reading then anyone really has time for.

3. In the time it takes to do the list I could do some volunteer work in the community.

2. In the time it takes to do the list I could have taken a nap.

And number 1…. in the time it takes to do the list I can think of 25 random chapters to write in the book that will be coming out about this new “sociological phenomenon”

And NO you do not have to send this to 25 people.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY CHILL!

Rev. Rick Warren as we know has been invited to offer the invocation at President-elect Obama’s inauguration. The firestorm being raised by the LGBTQ community from my perspective is very sad, embarrassing and a whole lot of whining over something that will not matter in a year.

In fact I honestly think it is much hell raising over nothing. Further, as much as I love my community I wish they would just shut up.

Why? Let’s start with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The “religious and political right tried to make a big deal out of this preacher because he said some things that did not set well with them. He was called every name in the book, except a child of God. It was said this was reason enough to be suspect of the presidential candidate. Sean Hannity a voracious right-winger raise the question of how could one be in the pews for 20 years and not have this alleged hate rube off-not hate America too?

I said then and many in my community agreed it was not right or appropriate to be going after then Senator Obama’s pastor. What is said from the pulpit by a preacher does not reflect on the policy or positions taken by a particular candidate. My goodness if it did adultery and divorce by our leaders would be cut in half! Homelessness and hunger would be a thing of the past. Our weapons of destruction would have been beaten into plowshares long ago!

So where do we get off throwing this idea aside just because we do not like the preacher who has been asked to pray?

Come on folks let’s get real. Years ago when I first came to Toledo I was invited to give the opening invocation for the city council. Now you know damn well there were people on that council that knew I was gay, from a gay church and had nothing but a headache to offer them. Yet other then private comments, nothing was said or done to try and stop it.

There was no outcry of outrage: Why? Because I was there as a PASTOR to PRAY. I was not there to make policy, carry out an agenda, or speak on behalf of the LGBTQ community. I was there to ask for God’s blessing on that meeting, nothing more and nothing less. Rev. Rick Warren is a PASTOR who has been asked to PRAY, nothing more and nothing less.

Further more President-elect Obama is keeping his word to reach across the lines that divide us. We know and understand this Pastor and the President-elect do not agree on any number of issues. In fact we are pretty sure this Pastor worked pretty hard at defeating the President-elect. So for Obama to reach out and say “would you pray for me” is an act of grace, a courageous act of inclusion.

Have we forgotten how Jesus, called the tax collector out of a tree to have lunch with him? There was no one in Jesus time more hated then a tax collector. Yet, Jesus reached across a line to begin the process of healing.

Have we forgotten how Jesus spent time talking with Nicodemus the Pharisee, answering his questions concerning his teaching?

I am fully aware that at this moment in time the Rev. Rick Warren is not our friend. I am aware that he has gone out of his way to stop our community from obtaining marriage rights. Yet even with this awareness I dare say most pastors who could have been asked, would be controversial to some group or another for various and sundry reasons.

This is not the fight we want to have folks…this is not where we spend political capital… bitching about who has been asked to pray. My goodness could you imagine what would have happen had he ask an Imam to pray? The firestorm, which would have ensued from that, would be just as stupid and ignorant as this controversy is.

My sisters and brothers we have far more important issues to be concerned about.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” being over turned is far more critical then who prays at the inauguration.

“ENDA” which includes the T is far more critical then who prays at the inauguration.

By the way Joe Solmonese of the HRC doesn’t have a whole lot of room to be throwing rocks here…

Homeless gay kids and what happens to them is far more important then who prays at the inauguration.

The treatment of Transgender veterans is far more important then who prays at the inauguration.

Kids being bullied in school because they are perceived to be gay are far more important then who prays at the inauguration.

Adoption rights for the LGBTQ community are far more important then who prays at the inauguration.

HIV and the black community is far more important then who prays at the inauguration.

A solid “hate crimes” bill is far more important then who prays at the inauguration.

Our community is small, our resources and allies are limited, so let us spend our time our resources and gathering our allies on that which will really make a difference for our community. Let us spend our time, our resources and gathering our allies on that which will save our lives. Let us spend our time, our resources and gathering our allies on that which will give us the dignity that is our birthright. So, please in the name of all that is holy, take a deep breath and chill.

NOT GIVING UP

WELCOME TO THE NEW WEEK!!! :-)

Let us carry these powerful words of wisdom in the front of our mind as we journey the week:

"My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and God's love becomes complete in us—perfect love!"

1 John 4:11-12 (The Message)

WELCOME TO THE NEW WEEK!!! :-)

Let us lay claim to this promise of God as we journey our week:

"'For here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I'll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You'll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!"

Ezekiel 36:24-28 (The Message)

PRESS RELEASE FROM: Rev. Guy Kent

The Questing Parson, recently named one of the Top Fifty Methodist Theological Blogs, will feature a video interview with the Reverend Paul Turner, founding pastor of the Gentle Spirit Christian Church, beginning Monday, November 3, 2008.

The Questing Parson, who in real life is the Reverend Guy Kent, former pastor of The Epworth Church at Candler Park and now serving as a retired supply pastor at a rural church in Northwest Georgia, is adding video interviews to his popular blog, the first of which is the interview with the Reverend Turner.

This interview with Pastor Paul was conducted earlier in the year and chronicles his struggle with being called to the Christian ministry while being gay. At moments emotional, sometimes inspiring, and throughout informative, the interview presents a deeper understanding of the struggle of gay Christians as well as appreciation for the marvelous ministry to the homeless, the marginalized, and the LGBTQ community conducted by the Gentle Spirit Christian Church.

The interview will go up on The Questing Parson Blog at midnight (Pacific Time), Monday, November 3rd. To access the blog you may click HERE or copy and paste the URL: www.questingparson.org.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Well it certainly has been a while since I wrote anything for the blog. There are a couple of reasons for that. First, I guess I have been going through a case of the “pastoral dumps”. “Pastoral dumps” being a kind of depression where one does what is required and not anything beyond. I have more or less aroused from those ashes and I was amazed at how God had a hand in it. I will write more about that later.

The second reason I have not written is because I have been over whelmed with this election cycle. I have found there are things that I have wanted to say and respond to, but I honestly believe that as a Pastor, I couldn’t for fear it would look and sound like I was supporting one candidate or another.

Yet, this election cycle is historical, and we are behaving like a people caught up in a moment of dramatic change. That is to say, things are being said and done that go beyond every day politics, the level of sexism, racism, homophobia, nationalism are at a boiling point, all because change is coming regardless who wins this election.

We in a few days for the first time in our history as a country may elect a women Vice-president of the United States. We may elect a black man as President of the United States. I never in my wildest dreams thought this possible in my lifetime. Of course, I also did not believe for a second that before I left this earth there would be 3 states and more to come who would say the sexual orientation of a couple has nothing to do with the State recognizing a marriage!

I have been an un-apologetic activist for a long time. So when the religious and political right started hammering on Senator Barak Obama’s pastor, I was appalled. First, it gave a clear signal the folks doing the hammering had no clue as to what black church is all about. 2nd, it showed they had no concern whatsoever of quoting fully, accurately or in context. 3rd, I went and listen to the sermon from the beginning to the end of the Pastor in question and I will tell you in 22 plus years of ministry I have either said, thought or supported most if not all of his points. So, news flash to those in my congregation: Don’t run for political office unless you want to be blamed for what I have said. However, it should be noted, I am white and queer so it probably won’t matter. If you can’t see the racism in this then you are not paying attention. Angry black preacher equals “danger”. White queer preacher equals “no one pays attention”.

I was equally appalled by the most recent controversy surrounding Governor Palin and her shopping for cloths. Let’s get real folks this is sexism at its worst…has anybody gotten bent out shape over Obama’s suits, or McCain’s shoes or how many houses he owns? Oh yea there has been a passing joke because he can’t remember the exact number. So of course not, because men in this country can dress anyway they want to and women are to dress according to men’s expectations. Men are supposed to own more property then they know what to do with…the more the better, the bigger the better.

See this is why I haven’t written in a long while. The previous examples are just small potatoes compared to what has gone on for the last year and a half.

I got caught up in the fear, anxiety and anticipation being played out on November 4th, the United States of America is going to change in a way that no one alive today has ever experienced. One would have to go all the way back to the day 13 colonies said enough was enough. I do not think I am overstating what is about to happen.

So as a Pastor I think I need to say something pastoral, something that will give comfort and peace to folks as they cast a ballot that will literally change the course of this country. I was stuck, how to say anything without getting caught in the rhetoric of the political parties, how to teach without exposing my own personal thoughts, preferences and leanings toward one candidate or another. How not to vomit over the ignorance that is so brazenly being thrown around dressed in theological drag.

Then I got a weekly e-mail from Sojourners magazine. This is a weekly e-mail of spirituality, politics and culture. Jim Wallis, who is the editor and is the author of a book called “The Great Awakening”and is very keyed in on the pastoral response to this election. I have to tell you he put on the screen what I wanted to say but apparently am not gifted enough to come up with on my own. Yet, this is what I hope each of my readers would let sink in during this historic time in America. So here with his permission is the article of pastoral advice he has offered. Not that it matters to him, but I give a loud and excited amen to his article and pastoral words. Read closely and prayerfully and when you are done come November 4th if you do nothing else that day VOTE.

My Personal 'Faith Priorities' for this Election

In 2004, several conservative Catholic bishops and a few megachurch pastors like Rick Warren issued their list of "non-negotiables," which were intended to be a voter guide for their followers. All of them were relatively the same list of issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc. None of them even included the word "poverty," only one example of the missing issues which are found quite clearly in the Bible. All of them were also relatively the same as official Republican Party Web sites of "non-negotiables." The political connections and commitments of the religious non-negotiable writers were quite clear.
I want to suggest a different approach this year and share my personal list of "faith priorities" that will guide me in making the imperfect choices that always confront us in any election year — and suggest that each of you come up with your own list of "faith" or "moral" priorities for this election year and take them into the voting booth with you.
After the last election, I wrote a book titled God’s Politics. I was criticized by some for presuming to speak for God, but that wasn’t the point. I was trying to explore what issues might be closest to the heart of God and how they may be quite different from what many strident religious voices were then saying. I was also saying that "God’s Politics" will often turn our partisan politics upside down, transcend our ideological categories of Left and Right, and challenge the core values and priorities of our political culture. I was also trying to say that there is certainly no easy jump from God’s politics to either the Republicans or Democrats. God is neither. In any election we face imperfect choices, but our choices should reflect the things we believe God cares about if we are people of faith, and our own moral sensibilities if we are not people of faith. Therefore, people of faith, and all of us, should be "values voters" but vote all our values, not just a few that can be easily manipulated for the benefit of one party or another.
In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call "the common good," and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests.
I am in no position to tell anyone what is "non-negotiable," and neither is any bishop or megachurch pastor, but let me tell you the "faith priorities" and values I will be voting on this year:

1. With more than 2,000 verses in the Bible about how we treat the poor and oppressed, I will examine the record, plans, policies, and promises made by the candidates on what they will do to overcome the scandal of extreme global poverty and the shame of such unnecessary domestic poverty in the richest nation in the world. Such a central theme of the Bible simply cannot be ignored at election time, as too many Christians have done for years. And any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith.

2. From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war and the hope of beating our swords into instruments of peace. So I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve the inevitable conflicts in the world and make us all safer. I will choose the candidates who seem to best understand that our security depends upon other people’s security (everyone having "their own vine and fig tree, so no one can make them afraid," as the prophets say) more than upon how high we can build walls or a stockpile of weapons. Christians should never expect a pacifist president, but we can insist on one who views military force only as a very last resort, when all other diplomatic and economic measures have failed, and never as a preferred or habitual response to conflict.

3. "Choosing life" is a constant biblical theme, so I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face — not just one. Thirty-thousand children dying globally each day of preventable hunger and disease is a life issue. The genocide in Darfur is a life issue. Health care is a life issue. War is a life issue. The death penalty is a life issue. And on abortion, I will choose candidates who have the best chance to pursue the practical and proven policies which could dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America and therefore save precious unborn lives, rather than those who simply repeat the polarized legal debates and "pro-choice" and "pro-life" mantras from either side.

4. God’s fragile creation is clearly under assault, and I will choose the candidates who will likely be most faithful in our care of the environment. In particular, I will choose the candidates who will most clearly take on the growing threat of climate change, and who have the strongest commitment to the conversion of our economy and way of life to a cleaner, safer, and more renewable energy future. And that choice could accomplish other key moral priorities like the redemption of a dangerous foreign policy built on Middle East oil dependence, and the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new "green" economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility.

5. Every human being is made in the image of God, so I will choose the candidates who are most likely to protect human rights and human dignity. Sexual and economic slavery is on the rise around the world, and an end to human trafficking must become a top priority. As many religious leaders have now said, torture is completely morally unacceptable, under any circumstances, and I will choose the candidates who are most committed to reversing American policy on the treatment of prisoners. And I will choose the candidates who understand that the immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to "welcome the stranger."

6. Healthy families are the foundation of our community life, and nothing is more important than how we are raising up the next generation. As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the values our leaders model in the midst of the cultural degeneracy assaulting our children. Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values, using the White House and other offices as bully pulpits to speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values? And I will choose the candidates who promise to really deal with the enormous economic and cultural pressures that have made parenting such a "countercultural activity" in America today, rather than those who merely scapegoat gay people for the serious problems of heterosexual family breakdown.
That is my list of personal "faith priorities" for the election year of 2008, but they are not "non-negotiables" for anyone else. It’s time for each of us to make up our own list in these next 12 days. Make your list and send this on to your friends and family members, inviting them to do the same thing.

I would only add a number 7, which is to say for me I will look for leadership that understands GLBTQ not as moral alphabet soup from which political hay can be made. But rather GLBTQ are Americans who desire to live in a land where the words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all … are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

are a way of life not a far off vision.