Jitterbugging for Jesus

Mozart or Mick Jagger? (Music Therapy)

Rev. Paul McKay — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:04:17 +0000

THE DARK & THE LIGHT; THE BEAUTIFUL & THE BEASTLY: THE HOLY & THE PROFANE; THE PEACE & THE VIOLENCE: IT'S ALL PART OF COPING IN A BROKEN WORLD IN NEED OF THE HEALING POWER OF GOD'S LOVE, GRACE & TENDER MERCIES

Pleasure is the floating beauty of a Mozart Andante.

or some mean ol’ Mick Jagger song . . .

The stressful life of Christ Jesus (Noon Wine)

Rev. Paul McKay — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:59:22 +0000

MY VACATION BUDDY THE TEENAGER GODWIN CHILLING IN THE ROCKIES: you don't have to retreat to the mountaintop, though, for quiet, quality time with God

Been doing a lot of reading and reflecting on the Gospel of Mark lately–that short but powerful gospel that Mark wrote.

Mark was a terrific journalist; he could tell a story in a powerful way without a word wasted. His gospel is so readable and flows at such a nice clip that it’s the one of the four gospels that perhaps anyone new to Christian faith should read a bunch of times, with a good commentary in hand, for further study.

In my own recent study on it I was reminded of how often Jesus would withdraw from the maddening crowds and masses of people who wanted to hear his teaching or find treatment in his healing. And of course there were his enemies who were spying on him and constantly challenging him.

And you think you have a stressful life?

You will notice in the gospels, though, that Jesus frequently withdrew–went to the wilderness or the mountain or the garden or anywhere he could find some solitude and be in quiet communion and prayer with the Creator. After taking these spiritual retreats, Jesus tended to come back strong, always with some big bang miracle or something that got everybody’s attention. His quiet time renewed, restored and empowered him in mind, body, spirit and soul.

Get out your Bible and read Mark 6: 30-56. After feeding the 5,000, Jesus says adios to the crowd and his disciples and goes to the mountain for prayer and quiet time. After this respite. he’s standing on the land and watching as his disciples are freaking out in a boat. He sees them “straining at the oars against an adverse wind,” so he goes walking across the sea and freaks them out even more: they’re thinking it’s a ghost.

But Jesus says, “Take heart; it is I, do not be afraid.”

He casually gets in the boat as everything calms down.

This is quite similar, really, to a prior story in Mark where the disciples are freaking in a violent storm that Jesus is sleeping through in the boat. They wake him up, thinking he must be crazy (people were always thinking Jesus must be crazy, even his own immediate family). So he gets up and casually calms the winds and turbulent seas and eveything is okie dokie out there on the water.

(Presumably they then go and relax with some fishing.)

There are obvious lessons in these stories—one being that no matter how hard and stressful and turbulent life gets for us, we need only remember that Jesus is within us, beside us, all around us, available for bringing his calming influence to bear if only we’ll stay connected with him through prayer, Bible reading, withdrawals into silence and solitude and quality time in prayer or communion with the Almighty.

Believe me, taking good, quality time for spiritual self care is the only way that ministers and chaplains and pastoral caregivers can give of themselves without knocking themselves out.

Life, as you have noticed, gets crazy busy and stressful–sometimes overwhelmingly so.

But one of deep faith who practices spiritual discipline, which includes quality quiet time, is one who, I’m convinced, will be the calmest when the winds are violent and the seas are turbulent.

And just always remember the one lesson that is emphasized over and over throughout the Bible.

God is with you; have no fear.

Nice try with the lie, Komen—and get out of bed with the NFL bedfellow, will you?

Rev. Paul McKay — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:25:55 +0000

I’m glad to see Komen Foundation officials back down and apologize for the Planned Parenthood fiasco, even if some of them continue to lie through their teeth about the PP fiasco not being politically motivated. The facts and an increasingly long trail of clear evidence just don’t support that assertion, and their assertions to the contrary wouldn’t float in a bottle of that ghastly Pepto Bismo pink stuff that always made my stomach issues worse somehow.

These people–the corrupt people of Komen–are giving me stomach upset every time they try to deny the dirty work of them and conservative Republican anti-abortion fanatics and pathological haters who want to obliterate Planned Parenthood even at the risk of the health and the very lives of poor or struggling women–what Newt Gingrich might characterize as food stamp women.

Or what Mitt Romney might characterize as people who are of no concern because of safety nets that might need a little mending. And BTW, being the compassionate man he is, he’ll mend those nets if necessary, because being poor is “not a good thing,” as he said in one of the bigger understatements of his evermore flip=floppy campaign.

I’m suspecting that the only poor people Mitt Romney ever encountered in real life were the starving artists in Paris where he was a Mormon missionary on a mission to convert the French to Mormonism. (Good luck with that project, Mormon friends.)

But I digress.

A lot of the corrupt people at the top of the always feel-good-image cultivating Komen–and by no means are all of them are corrupt but many, many at the top levels have been for a long time–got sucked in by the power of their own power.

And you know what they say about power and corruption.

And I hope you know what the Bible and world history tell us about the seduction of the power of money, which Newt Gingrich knows well being the high-dollar “historian” and disingenuous D.C. influence peddler that he is, all wrapped up in tasty dough-boy goodness and that old, down-home Georgia flavor.

Now, if only we can get the better angels at Komen not only to stop its liars and political gamers but also to get out of the charity’s partnership with the sleazy National Football League.

Let’s think here about how the NFL and Komen, two image and marketing obsessed behemoths, could get together in slick, pink sheets. Let’s talk about the virtue of the NFL, a glorified alcohol sales agency that is the greatest purveyor and enabler of alcohol addiction and abuse the world will likely ever see. (And think about it on this day when sports superstar Josh Hamilton–God bless you Josh and may God lift you up one more time–fell hard off the wagon, again.)

If you’re a major sports fan you know–and even your children know–that you can’t go to a sports stadium anymore without being bombarded by signs urging you to have one more tasty beer–signs that, like cute commercials, seduce you at both your conscious level and the deeper one too to drink up–especially if you’ve a propensity for alcohol abuse.

You can’t watch an NFL game without being bombarded with, admittedly, some very funny and clever beer commercials, and just wait till Sunday’s Super Drunk Bowl Extravanganza. As clever and funny as those are, they feed the national and world beast that is drug addiction and tell everybody that it’s OK to drink till your face falls off.

But drink responsibly, the NLF and the beer makers it serves always remind us.

Drink responsibility.

Right.

People, never forget—alcohol is the ultimate dangerous and potentially lethal drug that does way more damage to lives than the illegal drugs we spend kazillions on trying to contain.

But here’s the kicker in this Komen/NFL partnership: alcohol abuse leads to the horrors of domestic violence against women and children. Domestic abuse rises after (surprise!) NFL games, especially the Super Bowl.

So why is the Komen Foundation, which supposedly is about the good health and welfare of women and children about all else, in such a close and tight relationship with a glorified beer pusher like the NFL?

The NFL is obsessed about projecting warm, fuzzy images designed to make you think they are primarily some kind of charity themselves. At the end of the day, the NFL is about nothing much at all that is virtuous, no matter how many do-good public service announcements they throw out, no matter how many players, who really are good guys most of them, that they trot out for good causes. No matter how much they slide in a little “drink responsibly” message once in a while that gets lost in all the hyper-promotion of alcohol consumption.

(“Beer drinkers all over America are SUFFERING because of lack of beer taste,” the speaker in a well known beer commercial intones in a popular beer commercial aired repeatedly in NFL games. What a slap in the face to people who are actually suffering, really and truly suffering, from, say, breast cancer.)

Well, anyway, you can bet, friends and enemies of this blawg, that a lot of Komen types are being shuffled in NFL limos to excessive and extravagent Super Drunk Bowl Parties as we speak, and will be treated to the Super Drunk Bowl Game tomorrow in the best NFL suites in the Beer Stadium.

But . . . Wait—have I mentioned in all this rambling around that alcohol abuse can lead to breast cancer???

OK, enough already . . .

Here’s the latest news report you may have already seen about all this ugliness between two high-profile non-profits. And below it is a related link to a posting from this very blawg that we originally alienated whole nations with on Oct. 14, 2010:

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation apologized for cutting off funding from Planned Parenthood and vowed to revise its policy that led to that decision amid intense backlash against the nation’s largest breast cancer organization.
“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” president and founder Nancy Brinker said in a statement today. “We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.”

“Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation,” she added. “We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.”

Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, praised the move.

“In recent weeks, the treasured relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and Planned Parenthood has been challenged, and we are now heartened that we can continue to work in partnership toward our shared commitment to breast health for the most underserved women,” Richards said in a statement. “We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Komen partners, leaders and volunteers.”

On Tuesday, the Susan G. Komen Foundation cut off funding for about 19 Planned Parenthood clinics that provide breast cancer screening and other preventative services.

Planned Parenthood affiliates received about $680,000 per year from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and provided about 170,000 clinical breast exams and 6,400 mammogram referrals through those funds, mainly to low-income and minority women.

The foundation said its decision was spurred by a recent policy change that disallowed it from funding organizations that are under investigation. A Congressional committee, led by anti-abortion Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. is looking into Planned Parenthood affiliates to see if they used taxpayer money to fund abortions.

But critics charged that the move was solely political and based on the pressure that the Susan G. Komen Foundation has been facing from anti-abortion groups over the years. Planned Parenthood was the only grantee among 2,000 other organizations whose funding was cut off under the new policy.

Critics also linked it to the foundation’s recent hiring of Karen Handel, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate who is an outspoken opponent of Planned Parenthood. Brinker denied that Handel was involved in the decision.

A number of Susan G. Komen Foundation board members resigned in the wake of that decision.

Meanwhile, the move spurred a flood of support for Planned Parenthood. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the group $250,000 and pledged to give $1 for every dollar Planned Parenthood raises up to $250,000. Oil tycoon Lee Fikes and his wife also gave the group $250,000, and it raised more than $650,000 from across the country. Indie rock band, The Decemberists, today pulled its support from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, saying it will now give all its funds to Planned Parenthood’s Breast Health Emergency Fund.
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And here’s the link to that Jitterbug rant from a couple of football seasons ago.

Your regular Tuesday Afternoon Music Therapy (Birdies Div.)

Rev. Paul McKay — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:57:21 +0000

"Wow! We never had music lak this back on the farm, huh honey???"

For Melissa at Melissa Not Dusting” (the little sister I never had) who sure takes pretty pictures of bluebirds and stuff.

With Buffalo Springfield, who begat Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

And for the record, “Bluebird” is one of my all time rock faves from wayyyy back in the sixties when this music was fresh and original and cutting edge and influential for inventive rock bands coming of age even today . . .

Did I say “McCain” endorses Gingrich in the previous posting???

Rev. Paul McKay — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:33:53 +0000

I meant to say “Cain,” of course, and promptly corrected it.

I apologize to Sen. John McCain for the slander of getting him confused with Herman Cain.

Cain & Gingrich’s pizza venture (Odd Couples News Div.)

Rev. Paul McKay — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:23:55 +0000

SOME DAY, FROM THE HIGH VANTAGE POINT OF THE ROCKIE MOUNTAINS WHERE THIS PHOTO SHOWS YOURS TRULY, ONE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE NEON LIGHTS OF THE "MOONIES PIZZA" FRANCHISES

Headline of the day so far:

“Former rival Cain endorses Gingrich”

Headline any day now:

“Former rivals Cain, Gingrich announce business venture:
Unveil plans for “Moonies Pizza Inc.”

“Your vanities are not worth a bit of cabbage” (Midnight Wine)

Rev. Paul McKay — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:36:06 +0000

You have scattered your awareness in all directions,
and your vanities are not worth a bit of cabbage.

The root of every thorn draws
the water of your attention toward itself.

How will the water of your attention reach the fruit?

Cut through the evil roots, cut them away.

Direct the Bounty of God to spirit and insight,
not to the knotted and broken world outside.

–—- Rumi

“Does anybody have a birthday out there today?” (In which we make the wish on yet another birthday for one night with Emmylou because, well, a boy can dream, can’t he?)

Rev. Paul McKay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:04:42 +0000

If I had known I’d live this long I’d have taken better care of myself.”

— George Burns

Yes, it was a dark and stormy night on this day 162 years ago when Dr. Ketchum brought me into this world and said to my Momma, “It’s a boy, Goldie. And he’s got Deanie’s jitterbug feet. He’s gonna be a jitterbuggin’ jesse, just like his daddy.”

For my birthday I’m wishing for world peace, more of this excellent health I’m in that defies all odds considering how much I abused my body for 162 years and, finally–one night with Emmylou Harris .

Blue Jazz Man Donald Miller, Baby Fat & All (Christian Writers We Love Div.)

Rev. Paul McKay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:59:33 +0000

Donald Miller wrote the screenplay himself for the movie version of his much-acclaimed book Blue Like Jazz---which he wanted to name "Blue Like Polka": Fortunately, his publisher insisted on a jazzier title

If the much anticipated movie “Blue Like Jazz” is one half as hilarious, inspiring, deeply spiritual, theologically incisive and entertaining as the best-selling autobiography of the same name by Houston native Donald Miller . . . .

Well, we can only hope it will live up to the good buzz surrounding its pre-release this spring.

Dandy Donald is one offbeat, quirky, unconventional, quite subsersive and gently anti-establishment 30-something Christian man who is about the most engaging and non-threatening radical Christian imaginable, the kind of guy you’d definitely love to have a beer with at a neighborhood pub or a Nehi Orange soda out of a bottle at a family picnic. He’s a beer or Orange soda kinda guy, whatever your pleasure.

Miller landed in his spiritual journey in the most un-Christian city of Portland and won the hearts and minds and souls of some of the most anti-Christian students on one of the most librul and eccentric colleges around.

Other than that he’s just a regular guy, one who happens to be a rather exceptional writer and speaker struggling with the sacred and the profane in the hybrid mix that is this sacred and profane and broken world in his never-ending search to find union with God and humanity–a Christian mystic of a regular guy who would love for you to love him and love God as much as he does, but if you don’t he’ll probably go take a nap anyway and forget about you anyway.

Come to think of it, that’s probably why I like him so much, but this is about Donald Miller, whose book you ought to read before the movie comes out if you’ve not read it.

Here’s the trailer to the movie and an interview with Miller his own self, who–if he lives long enough–may lose his baby fat and have whiskers some day.

january thaw

Rev. Paul McKay — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:12:18 +0000

Reblogged from four winds photo journal:

Southern Maine had rain and fog yesterday and last night. I took this shot early this morning. Puddles had formed in the hayfield, and the crows were taking advantage of them to bathe. I didn’t get a clear shot of that, but this is what the scene looked like. 48º at 4:30 in the afternoon!