Dedication of New Building

Deeply Conflicted about TJ

Deeply conflicted about TJ

 

This summer, I was fortunate enough to spend a week studying Thomas Jefferson at a teacher institute with scholars from Monticello and the University of Virginia.

 

We looked first at Jefferson’s rhetoric. His words in the Declaration of Independence have not only inspired Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lincoln and King, but can be traced to 114 similar documents throughout the world over the past 200+ years. Add the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and his writings on education and democracy, and, well, I know why I love TJ.

 

Looking at his political career and presidency, we get a mixed bag. There’s Jefferson’s governorship of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, where he is almost captured by the British, and is at his political low point. He has a successful first term as President, culminated by Lewis and Clark, but has a less successful second term, with the persecution of VP Burr for treason and the wildly unsuccessful Embargo Act.

 

But it is slavery where the “deeply conflicted” part really appears. There are early writings were he acknowledges the wrongs of slavery and urges its abolition, including the first draft of the Declaration. But as he continues to write, he finds more excuses to not free his own slaves, and kick the national question to the next generation. His “Notes on the State of Virginia,” the only book he ever published, shows a complete lack of understanding or empathy about the people he enslaves – he just doesn’t get it. And of course there’s Sally Hemings – definitely not unusual for the period, a complicated relationship to be sure, but…. wrong. Finally there are accounts of TJ writing about escaped slaves from Monticello and the beating of slaves as punishment.

 

So how do we put him in perspective? How could someone who wrote words that gave voice to the most inspiring of human aspirations throughout the world do the things he did, and think the things he thought? Jefferson should have known better – judging him by the standards of 18^th century Virginia doesn’t seem to work because he was so far beyond those standards. He knew what he was doing was wrong. Yet it seems unfair to throw out the wonderful words, the intense intellectual curiosity, the visionary ideas, because he suffered from human frailty magnified because he was, Jefferson.

 

So what are you thoughts?  I would appreciate any “TJ therapy” you would be so kind to impart.

The National Parks (Ken Burns)

See Ken Burns' The National Parks 6-part series on KCET from 8-10 pm each night from Sunday, 27 Sep through Friday, 2 Oct. For additional information and other viewing options go to

 

www.pbs.org/nationalparks

SHARKBREAK!

The fish follows your mouse, but there's more.

This is amazing. Who ever wrote the software must have spent hours.   If you click on the extreme right hand column you can change the scene of the background.  There are some really beautiful ones. 

By clicking on the extreme left hand column you can change the type of fish, it's relaxing to watch them swim.

http://www.sharkbreak.com/ 

Reference Source for Christian Scripture and Hymns

Do you ever want to locate a particular Bible verse or hymn? Click on the following for a wonderful source of information:

 

http://library.timelesstruths.org/

 

The Scorch version of the hymns shows the musical notes and text tracked by a bar as the piece is played.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!!

A NEW concept for the internet is going to be introduced soon called BLASTOFF!
It's FUN, FREE, easy, .. and offers discounts & rebates! Please view at:

www.susanblastoff.com

www.blastofflady.com

This will go public soon! We invite you to participate in the opportunity prior to public launching.

Please call me at 310 200.4747 for the link to sign up. Susan

A Theory about Successful Churches

Utilizing the economic model of supply and demand, a Tulane sociologist Shayne Lee and historian Phillip Luke Sinitiere have reexamined the reasons some churches are successful. Published this spring, their book Holy Mavericks: Evangelical Innovators and the Spiritual Marketplace analyzes the appeal of the ministries of five well-known Protestant preachers; T. D. Jakes, an African-American; Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life; Joel Osteen, Houston mega-church leader; Paula White, "evangelical Oprah Winfrey"; and Brian McLaren, Generation X leader. The authors conclude that the success of these preachers lies in their entrepreneurial spirit in a competitive spiritual marketplace. Lee says each preacher has " the ability to understand American culture, to be on the cutting edge of using psychotherapy and aspects in the language and taste of contemporary Americans in order to draw people to their congregations". It has been commonly accepted by sociologists that conservative denominations are successful because they are stricter, which results in more dedicated followers and strong churches. Lee rejects this strict-church thesis, stating "It has nothing to do with strictness. None of these five ministries promote strict religion. It has more to do with the evangelical's ability to address existential needs and the cultural taste of a broad range of contemporary people".

As I'm not sure that a full reading of this book would give me a significantly better understanding of the authors' thesis, I am reluctant to devote the effort required to read it. It would be interesting to see what our premier book reviewer, Frank, would report.

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Presbytery of the Pacific Pulpit Exchange Sunday

Sermon: A Touchable, Tangible Faith

Guest Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth I. Steele

Sermon text: James 5:13-20

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth I. Steele was ordained to be the interim pastor of St. Luke's Presbyterian Church in 1980. She is now an intentional interim who has worked with Presbyterian, UCC, and Lutheran congregations. Her family has grown. She and David have a daughter who is a junior in high school.

Have you ever seen a Water Bridge over a river?

Even after you see it, it is still hard to believe!

Water Bridge in Germany. What a feat!

Six years, 500 million euros, 918 meters long … now this is engineering!

This is a channel-bridge over the River Elbe and joins the former East and West Germany, as part of the unification project. It is located in the city of Magdeburg, near Berlin.

The photo was taken on the day of inauguration.

To those who appreciate engineering projects, here's a puzzle for you armchair engineers and physicists. Did that bridge have to be designed to withstand the additional weight of ship and barge traffic, or just the weight of the water?

Answer:

It only needs to be designed to withstand the weight of the water!

Why? A ship always displaces an amount of water that weighs the same as the ship, regardless of how heavily a ship may be loaded

Onward, Christian Soldiers

In some of their sermons, our pastors have enlightened us about a number of popular hymns. Here is a brief comment on another old favorite. Lyrics for the English hymn, Onward, Christian Soldiers, were written in 1865 by Sabine Baring-Gould for children. The final music for it was written in 1871 by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. Baring-Gould did not write " ...marching on to war..." but wrote in simile "... marching as to war...". Nevertheless, in 1990, yielding to political correctness, the Presbyterian Church USA omitted Onward, Christian Soldiers from their hymnal. The Methodist Church attempted to do so with the United Methodist Hymnal in 1986, but relented in the face of outraged protest by its members. One of my favorite scenes of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade is the Salvation Army Band marching down Colorado Boulevard playing their favorite, Onward, Christian Soldiers. May the Salvation Army never become the Salvation Committee.

Click the following to hear a rendition:

http://tinyurl.com/l6yrbj

God gave us Colors

Please, turn on sound.

 

Click here: Colors

Fwd: Julie Andrews singing 'Do, Re, Mi'

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From: Ivchin
To: Ivchin
BCC: AANDEHOY
Sent: 8/19/2009 11:28:13 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Julie Andrews singing "Do, Re, Mi"

EXCELLENT!

This video was made in the Antwerp , Belgium Central (Train)

Station on the 23rd of March 2009.

with no warning to the passengers passing through the station,

at 08:00 am a recording of Julie Andrews singing 'Do, Re, Mi'

begins to play on the public address system.

As the bemused passengers watch in amazement, some

200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd and station entrances.

They created this amazing stunt with just two rehearsals!

Enjoy!

click HERE

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You are so Blessed!

Please, turn on the sound and click the following address:

 

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jimdandy/specials/blessed.htm

Where is St. Luke's?

        Do you ever need to give someone directions to St. Luke's? Refer them to the following site:

 

http://tinyurl.com/auwcx

Sign of Jonah?

The Sign of Jonah has fallen victim to paucity of human and financial resources, as well as to apathy in the face of these challenges. Frank is to be commended for his attempt to resurrect it; however, these same adversaries have caused him to announce resignation on 16 Sep. Perhaps, this is premature. Frank's e-mail on the subject led to the forming of this blog, which should essentially eliminate the need for significant human and financial resources. All articles and inspirational tidbits that were formerly submitted for Sign of Jonah publication can be posted to the blog. Sermons could be posted every week. Frank's interesting book reviews could be posted individually as soon as available. Links to interesting sites are welcome. While the St. Luke's online calendar is best for a comprehensive list of scheduled events, new items are more efficiently disseminated on the blog. Color pictures and videos can be posted. Spirited discourse, enemy of apathy, could be waged.

For those that miss a more traditional form of Sign of Jonah, we should consider Jan Gardner's suggestion in her Aug 25th comment to Frank's Aug 16 blog, Jonah - yes or no. Jan suggests a quarterly hardcopy issue composed of selected items copied from the blog. She also commented that those items could then be cleared from the blog; however, that is unnecessary. Google provides the space for free, and those would be the better items. The issue could be just a collection of cut-and-paste items. No editing, reformatting, or retyping would be required. Only those requesting such copies need receive them, and as much as possible, distribution would be at church to reduce mailing costs.

Upcoming Events - Next Week

Wed, Sep 23:

        7:30 am   Gardening

        Noon        Staff Meeting

        7:00 pm   Kirk Choir Rehearsal

Thu, Sep 24:

        5:30 pm    Dining-out Group (meets in lower parking lot)

Sun Sep 27:

        9:30 am    Rev. Elizabeth Steele preaching as part of the Presbytery-wide

                                pulpit exchange (Pastor Reinhard is preaching at First

                                Presbyterian Church of San Pedro.)

Fwd: Root Beer Bottling Sunday - September 20

 

 

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From: office@stlukespres.com
To: hildahk@cox.net, doma89@cox.net, ealefevre@earthlink.net, wopschall@att.net, gmaldoon2001@yahoo.com, reidhousesp@sbcglobal.net, mjharmatz1@cox.net, skidvm@aol.com, kim-erbe@cox.net, tomarti@yahoo.com, krauss@jps.net, aandehoy@aol.com, albertfamily3@cox.net, ellengore@ca.rr.com, maryyu3143@sbcglobal.net
Sent: 9/17/2009 9:33:13 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Root Beer Bottling Sunday

 

Dear Youth and Families,

 

Ted Peet and Marti Williams will be returning to Brewbaker's this Sunday September 20 after church to bottle the rest of the root beer we made last month.  Please come along to share in the bounty!  Call Marti at (310) 941-5931 with any questions.

 

Ellen Chase

Director of Children and Youth Ministries

St. Luke's Presbyterian Church

26825 Rolling Hills Road

Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

(310) 377-2825

 

"A Place to Belong, A Place to Become, A Place to Make a Difference."

 

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Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sermon: The Swedish Hit – How Great Thou Art

Preacher: The Rev. Laura Krauss

Question to Ponder:
"Let our souls sing" this Sunday as we reflect on the universal masterpiece "How Great Thou Art".

Please preview – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf0vJiyeLIo


"A Place to Belong, A Place to Become, A Place to Make a Difference."

Attention Ralph's Shoppers

        You need to re-enroll in the Ralph's Community Program by going to www.Ralphs.com or using the scanbar letter available in the narthex.

Prayer Requests

Don Leidig

The Koeller family
Ronnie Weakley

Robert Weakley (husband of Ronnie)
Gene Pearcy (friend of Gen Muller)

Jill Murphy (friend of Ann Dempsay)
Gil Garcia (friend of Ann Dempsay)
Jerrie Bird ( friend of Ann Dempsay)
Fred Olinger ( friend of Kay Marovich)
Corcoran Family (friends of Marti Williams)
Vivian Armenta (friends of Marti Williams' daughter)
Alice Gabrielson (cousin of Jan Gardner)
Carolyn Frank (mother of niece-in-law of Kay Marovich)

St. Luke's Online Calendar

        Check out St. Luke's calendar online at:

 

www.localendar.com/public/stlukespres

 

Bible Explorers

        After the summer break, the Bible Explorers started up last week. You are cordially invited to join us for conversation about the Bible and how it speaks into our lives. We meet at 10:00 a.m. around the kitchen table on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.

Book Notes by Frank Kline

Book Notes

Frank Kline

The Film Club: A True Story of a Father and Son, by David Gilmore, Thomas Alan Publishers, Toronto 2007, 244 pages.

David Gilmore’s son was failing in school and bouncing between his separated parents. In desperation his father said he could quit school provided they watched movies together and talked about the movies provided there was no drug use. There were drugs and the father let it slide.

I gave this as a gift to my son for obvious reasons. He read it and gave it back. But he continued to insist that Dylan go to school and do well. In September Dylan starts college. We will see.

Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency, by Barton Gellman, The Penguin Press, 2008, 483 pages.

Cheney was not my favorite human being nor I suspect the author’s. But the author doesn’t demonize Cheney. Instead the VP comes across as intelligent, highly focused, hard working and determined to do what he thought was necessary and needed by the country. I think he was wrong but that is in retrospect. We never know what would have happened if something or someone wasn’t present.

Bush at War, by Bob Woodward, Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 2002, 382 pages.

As George Santayana put it, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,"(sometimes called Santayana's Law of Repetitive Consequence). So Bush at War, Plan of Attack, State of Denial and The War Within should be required reading.

You keep wondering if Bob Woodward had recording devises in all of the participants’ offices and homes. Instead I think he did what I did when I surveyed hospitals. And that was to talk to everybody. No one would trash themselves or their service but they would cheerfully trash everyone else. Then all you had to do was to put it together. I suspect Woodward is a master at gaining confidence, listening carefully and finding the patterns. In subsequent interviews he uses what he has learned as bait to get more information.

That said, and in spite of my belief that Iraq was serious mistakes, I could see why Bush’s staff and family liked and respected him.

On page 8 there is wonderful story about Cofer Black the head of the Counter terrorism Center at the C.I.A. and his interaction with George Tenet head of the C.I.A.

On page 38 you get a look at why the administration wanted a strong reaction to Osama bin Laden. And on page 53, “Powell, for one, saw that Bush was tired of rhetoric. The president wanted to kill somebody”. Some of our cooperation with Russia is described on page 102

On page 49 you get to watch how the administration used the terrorist attack of 911 to justify an attack on Iraq.

“What fools these mortals be” said Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream. As Wikipedia puts it, Puck is a clever and mischievous elf and personifies the trickster or the wise knave. In the play, Shakespeare introduces Puck as the "shrewd and knavish sprite" and "that merry wanderer of the night" and jester to Oberon the fairy king. Enough said!

Plan of Attack. By Bob Woodward, Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 2004, 467 pages.

There was high intelligence and great focus put on the means for war but very little on weather the war was sensible, right, moral or ethical. Eventually everyone in the administration even Colin Powell went along, though in some cases reluctantly. As Robert Burns said, “But Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew, And leaves us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy!.”. Still you are blest, compared with me! The present only touches you: But oh! I backward cast my eye, On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see, I guess and fear!

While I am no great admirer of Edward Kennedy he voted against allowing the president to use force in Iraq and said, ”The administration has not made a convincing case…nor has the administration laid out the cost in blood and treasure…” He later added Bush’s preemptive doctrine amounted to “a call for 21st century American Imperialism that no other nation can or should accept”.

On page 251 you see Bush’s decision and his assumption of cabinet and councilor support. So it goes.

State of Denial: Bush at War Part III, By Bob Woodward, Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 2006, 558 pages.

Almost every battle plan is perfect until the first shot is fired and so it was with the invasion of Iraq. But like they say in the bric-a-brac shop, if you break it you own it. Colin Powell had serious reservations but didn’t confront Bush with a threat of resignation and if that failed with resignation and a loud clear public statement of his reasons for resigning. Carl Levine, the Chairman and Leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Woodward; “I’ve never thought Bush was dumb at all…But I think he’s intellectually lazy and I think he wants people around him who will not challenge him but will give him the ammunition which he needs or wants in order to achieve some more general goal”…”Powell had the potential to. change the course here…He’s the only one who had the potential to.” In response to Woodward’s, How? , Levine said, “He could have threatened to resign or insisted that U.N. weapons inspectors be allowed to continue…Can you imagine the power of that one person to change the course? He had it” (page 416).

Steve Herbits was along time friend of Rumsfeld and functioned for Rumsfeld rather like Karl Rove did for Bush (page 20). On page 103 Herbits tells Rumsfeld, “Now that I’ve got your attention, you have got to focus on the post-Iraq planning. It is so screwed up. We will not be able to win the peace”. Rumsfeld can’t remember the conversation but can’t say for sure that it didn’t happen.

On pages 328-329 we see how diplomacy was abandoned in the rush to war and how the insurgency so weakened us that we had no choice but return to diplomacy,

The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008, By Bob Woodward, Simon and Schuster, 2008, 487 pages.

“To retain respect for sausages and laws, one must not watch them in the making.”
Otto von Bismarck had it right. So this book will turn your stomach. Read it at your own risk. On page 432 Woodward writes, “Every meeting was about how to go to war. There was no meeting to discuss whether to go to war…Bush latter acknowledged in interviews with me (Woodward) that he did not seek the recommendations from four key people: his father, former President George H. W. Bush, who had overseen the first Gulf War in 1991; Secretary of State Colin Powell; Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; and C.I.A. director George Tenet. Let’s hope Winston Churchill had it right when he said, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else”.

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sermon: Give to the Wind Thy Fears

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

Sermon text: Matthew 14: 22-33
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Question to Ponder:
What keeps you awake at night? Can you hear God’s voice only when times are calm or also in the midst of worry?
If you have questions or would prefer not to receive future e-mails, please contact us at: office@stlukespres.com
St. Luke's Presbyterian Church
26825 Rolling Hills Road
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
(310) 377-2825

"A Place to Belong, A Place to Become, A Place to Make a Difference."

Halloween Party

We’re looking at holding another Trunk or Treat party this year to celebrate Halloween and enjoy a family fellowship opportunity. We thought either Sunday, October 25 or Friday, October 30 might work. Which date would be better for you? Do your children have competing events (or do you know of major community events) on either date? We’d like to set the date now so that in early October we’re ready to promote the party.