We're expecting snow tomorrow, starting in the early hours and maybe almost a foot.
So, I went out today for yellow roses and candy for Bern's Valentine's day.
Two days early, but well meant.
We've been married over 50 years and I love her more now than then.
Happy Valentine's Day to all of you.
And humble Ash Wednesday on the same day....
Thursday I tried to copy my sermon from my documents here and hit the wrong thing and erased it instead.
Luckily I'd coped a hard copy.
Then Friday I choked on a piece of steak at dinner and thought I'd got it out but spend 18 hours unable to swallow.
I was about to go to the emergency room but Bern asked our pharmacist recommended Emetrol--a liquid to take a bit of every 15 minutes.
I threw up part of the first dose, but after the second I could swallow again.
We had been ready, if Emetrol didn't work to go to the emergency room.
But it worked and I'll take a 5th dose before bed.
So, I will be able to go to church tomorrow and preach the sermon I accidentally erased.
I should say--and will say--"Thank the Lord!"
I had just over 800 views on my blog and I'm on track for that this month.
But the month before--December--I had 6,480 views.
Last month was the lowest I've had since the first few months after I started "Under the Castor Oil Tree".
Where is everyone?
I have almost half a million total views.
Where have all the readers gone?
Have I offended that many people?
Made them mad?
I just don't get it.
Well, we'll wait and see what happens....
PAUL AND JESUS
To begin, I’m going to say something that got me in trouble with seminary professors and this week, with some of my friends and colleagues: “I don’t like St. Paul!”
On Tuesday I said it on a regular Zoom meeting I have with four other Episcopal priest, three lay folks (including—but not that day—Steve McGraff) and a Roman Catholic priest from West Virginia—my brother-in-law, Dan Pisano (who wasn’t on the call this week).
Those on Zoom were all quick to defend Paul.
One of them even told me, “if it wasn’t for Paul, you wouldn’t even be a Christian.”
What they meant was that Paul was an evangelist to Gentiles.
Over Paul’s lifetime there were two kinds of Christians—Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.
The Jewish Christians believed that before a Gentile could become a Christian, they had to convert to being a Jew, be circumcised and obey the dietary restrictions and all other Jewish laws. Then they could follow Christ.
Very few if any Gentiles would go through with that. Paul proclaimed they didn’t have to. They could remain Gentiles and follow Jesus.
So, in some way my friend was right—if it hadn’t been for Paul I would have never been a Christian.
But I still don’t like Paul.
Case in point—today’s lesson from one of Paul’s letters to the believers in Corinth.
Listen—“Though I am free in respect of all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more of them. To the Jews I became a Jew….To those under the law, I became as one under the law….To those outside the law I became one outside the law….To the weak I become weak….I HAVE BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE….I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.”
He sounds like a politician, running for re-election.
He is ‘all things to all people’ so he might share the blessings.
Jesus doesn’t become ONE with those he serves.
If he did, when he found Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, he would have developed a fever!
If he did, when he found himself with someone possessed by a demon, he would have invited a demon into himself!
If he did, when someone denounced him, he would have denounced himself!
Jesus wasn’t ‘all things to all people’, he came to bring The Good News to all people!
Given a choice between Paul and Jesus, I would choose Jesus every time.
Don’t tell the Bishop, but I don’t like Paul….
Bishop Laura Ahrens met with me and the two wardens at the Diocesan offices because she is visiting Trinity on Feb. 18.
I have had issues with bishops before, but not with Laura.
We have a fine relationship based on mutual respect.
I enjoy being with her.
Our Jr. Warden had probing questions about the Episcopal Church and the conflict in Gaza.
But mostly we just talked about Trinity and what she should expect when she comes.
I also saw my old friend, H.D., who works at the Diocese.
We go way back and have shared joy and sadness with each other several times.
Not a bad bishop visit at all.
My handwriting has degenerated so badly that I can't even read it.
I make my grocery list by printing and even then I sometimes can't read it!
If it wasn't for my key board I'd be cut off from the world by my writing.
Eleanor is 7--my daughter and son-in-law's girl.
Bern talks with her on zoom for an hour every M-W-F and sometimes other days.
I poke my head in and say hi from time to time.
But it is her and Bern's time.
Today, Bern had her phone turned up (maybe she too is losing her hearing) and Eleanor sang for 45 of the 60 minutes.
Her dolls were having a talent show.
She sings well (my singing is just below my handwriting) but our two kids got Bern's musical ability and passed it on to their kids.
Hearing Eleanor singing down the hall gives me great joy and hope for the future.
Steve, who fills in for me on my off Sunday and does Morning Prayer has Covid.
So I was going to go up to Milton tomorrow.
But heavy weather is predicted tomorrow, especially in the North West Corner of CT where Milton is.
So church is cancelled.
It was going to be interesting since I didn't have a sermon. I usually write them by Thursday.
I was going to 'wing it' and see how it went.
But no need now.
And tomorrow is the NFL semi-finals.
Go CHIEFS!!!!
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