An interesting item

You have waited for weeks to learn the interesting item I had in mind when I began this blog. The story actually began the Sunday morning after Christmas and has been developing every since. I have been ill. Friend John Lederach called to ask me of my welfare and asked me what I had learned through my illness.  I think I said that I had learned that life is long – 88 years long  and short – 88 years short.

I listened to much radio, watched much TV, read books on my Kindle (its easier on my eyes) and thought, thought, and thought.

Beware how you Rebel

This Sunday morning I listened to Krista Tippett on Public Radio as she interviewed Courtney Martin and Parker Palmer on the general topic of the role of rebellion in society.  It seemed to me that they agreed that to be rebellious one must simply “show up.” The next program in the morning radio was from Big Picture Science with the warning to prepare to be “Replaced by Technology”.  So I decided that it was time for this old man to “Show Up as an act of rebellion” against being replaced by a machine.

Last evening I showed up by going through the snow and  cold for my first trip this year to church with My Joy and My Son in Law, Eldon.  Eldon provided the car and the driving. The featured event was a talk by Karl Shelly on the question“Can Mennonite Pastors Be Advocates for Justice? One Pastor’s Learnings After 15 Years of Trying”.

Pastor Karl Shelly

The Indiana Michigan Conference asked Shelly to defend his marriage of a same sex couple.  He wrote and  published his defense which is available as six page pdf. statement written on July 25, 2014 on his website.  I am also pleased to offer his you-tube explanation to the marginal Mennonites about why he and his congregation were aligned with welcoming Mennonite and Brethren congregations. Simply google “karl shelly,” browse the results and you should be able to find his you-tube statement.