Hey God, Open Up Yer F***** Eyes!

I don't think we can appreciate or fathom the immense suffering caused by the Tsunami disaster that we witnessed earlier this year. Here in the west, we were exposed to the smallest fraction of the horror wrecked upon so many innocent people, so far away from our shores. I'll never forget a comment one of my fellow teachers made to me one morning as I awaited the children before class. As The children were entering, I saw a fifth grader who I had two years ago in my class. The child had quite a few issues confronting him, and had been quite a challenge to the teachers who had had him. I asked the teacher in the room across the hall from me "How's ***** doing these days?" She responded, "Well thanks to God he's doing much better!"
I responded, "Don't thank God, Thank the teachers who have taught *****!" Can you imagine, God turns his back on over 350,000 wretched souls, but cares enough to intercede in the life of one suburban child!

A "Golden Age of Religion"

I think we are witnessing an unprecidented "Golden Age of religion". Not just in our own country but the world over as well. The separation between politics and religion is becoming narrower to the point where there is no distinction between the two. Religion seems to be manipulating the political scene and therefore intruding more and more upon our everyday life. I just read a disturbing story about a pastor of a small Baptist church in North Carolina who along with other "zealots" decided to expell 9 fellow congregants from their church because they did not support George W. Bush in the last election for President. The "Good" Reverend Chandler is back peddling because the "Unholy 9" chose to seek redress with the help of ACLU lawyers. Last Sunday, Chandler, welcomed the previously ousted 9 back into the "Fold". The 9 were seated next to their attorney and are seeking HIS ouster from the church. Emboldened by recent success in their opposition to Palestinian leader Mahmood Abbas, Hamas, the Extremist Islamic Fundamentalist organization has won a victory in last Thursday's election with victories in 28 municipalities in palestinian held land. I imagine that during the daily White House prayer meetings more than one prayer is prayed for God's help in this recent disturbing development. If asked why God allows these things to happen, one would be tempted to give the standard religious reply( when stymied by the unexplainable)...God works in mysterious ways!