Church rummage sale/ freedom of the press

I have been busy today helping pick up stuff for our church rummage sale, had hoped to get some youth work done today, oh well maybe tomorrow.

A few nights ago on C-span(yes I watch C-span)there was a congressional hearing that dealt with the issue of freedom of the press. It was called by Rep. Conyers of MI who I really like. He was the one who spent time to invegistate the voting issues from the last election that for many was unnoticed or labeled as sour grapes. Back to the hearing they invited press from multiple sources and biases ( yes there are biases in the media, although I am beginning to doubt the liberal media myth) but only the more progressive media ( Air America, fair media, etc...) showed up. What was most interesting was the view point of the BBC chief correspondent. He talked about the difference in the way the press in England treat politicians and the press here do. He said here if a politician does not answer a question the reporter moves on and rarely does or gets followup questions, in England the opposite is true, the reporter may ask the same question repeatly until they get an answer. The other thing that stuck out of this discussion was that a group called freedom house who was started by Eleanor Roosevelt to monitor freedom around the world published a recent study. The first thing they look at in determining if a country is free is their press, and in a recent study of countries and the press the US ranked 29th. The beacon of freedom, the country that is trying to impose freedom on others was 29th in terms of the freedom of our press, doesn't that startle you?

Some examples of the changing press in this country ( some due the Bush admistration, some due to the fact our media is corporation controlled) : the 10 Downing street memo that states Bush was going to war and the facts would be manipulated to support going to war, has not been discussed in main stream media. You need to follow blogs to know about it. The radio show host who was paid by the Bush admistration to push their adgenda, the fake reporter who asked softball questions of the President, the talking points the RNC and the heritage foundation feed Fox news and the right wing talk show hosts that is portrayed as news. I could go on,but this is too long of a post already.

see
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

Sunday School teacher, what does this imply?

This morning as I was reading CNN about the fight over Bush's judical nominees, a headline caught my eye "Fight centers on Sunday School teacher" and I wondered, is there a precived stereotype of what it means to be a Sunday School teacher? Priscilla Owen the judge whom this article was about is being labeled " a Sunday school teacher". Is that who she is simply a judge and a Sunday school teacher? Does that mean that she is automatcally a good, moral person because she teaches Sunday school? Maybe it is different in the evangical churches, but in any church I have ever been involved in, we ask for volunteers to teach Sunday school, some do it for many years, others once in their lifetime, but I don't ever remember refering to one of these volunteers as a Sunday school teacher when describing them to someone. That the press would key so heavily on one aspect of judge Owen's life leads me to beleive that this was emphaised on her bio coming from the White House. I may be wromg on that, but it seems to fit with their complaint that those fillerbusting are doing so against people of faith, and besides ordained ministers who is a truly a person of faith but your sunday school teacher. For someone who works in a church maybe I am being too cynical, but this moral superiority of the Christian Right really bothers me.

Cleaning, veggiing, reviewing bible study materials

today I was really moviated to clean my apartment, maybe it was I was sick of the mess and maybe it was talking to a friend last night who mentioned she was cleaning her apartment in preparation for her mother visiting from out of town. Saw multiple episodes of Airline UK as I cleaned. I also had some time to review some bible study materials and Sunday school curriculm for the youth and adults of our church for next year. I am really intriqued by "Living the Questions" which bills its self as a liberal alternative to Alpha, which has become the current fad in adult bible study.

Judicial nominees and the fillerbuster

I think the saddest thing coming to light in this fight over Bush's nominees is how partisan the two parties are. There has been talk of compromise in this conflict but it seems very unlikely due to the stubbornness in both sides. Listening to Sen Spector of PA, it seems he really understands what is going on, he says " if persons on both of sides of the aisle were not so handcuffed by the leadership, this issue might have some resolution. He also readily admits that his party has done similar things in regards to nominations by Democrat Presidents, and it is just payback, the question becomes how do we end this cycle of it's our turn to get even. While I do not agree with much of Sen. Spector's views on issues, I think he is a great leader for PA and our country, it is a shame that some from his party have made it their mission to defeat him, because he is not "a true republican", he has the courage to voice what he believes even if it is not the party position. On a similar note it is sad to see that conservatives are expressing their desire to outser Sen Hagel of NE and Sen Voinavich of OH because of their opposition to John Bolton as the UN ambassador. Not sure if this doesn't also happen in the Democrat party, but it continues the notion prevalent in the Bush administration, either you agree with us on everything or you are against us. I would rather have someone representing me who does not blindly follow their party leadership regardless of their believe of what is best for their constituents.

Cold in MN

I can't beleive it is so cold here in MN in early May. highs of low 40's forcast for today, possible snow up north, I guess it is the fishing opener weather jinx. I think today is the day the vote on Jon Bolton nominee to be the UN ambassodor is rescheduled for, haven't seen much in the news that occured during the delay so wonder if anything new was found. Saw a great animated cartoon yesterday from Mark Fioreabout commissions we would like to see and one was to investigate those being rewarding for doing a poor job ( ie, Condi Rice, Paul Wolfiwitz,etc...) I would add Bolton to this list, how does someone who tries to get analysists fired because they do not agree with him ( and do not happen to serve under him)and also says very critical things about the UN get nomimated to be the US representive to the UN? I know the Neo Cons ( opps, those labels again) do not like the UN, but this is crazy.

Jim Wallis, Christians, people of faith

When I was at Princeton, Jim Wallis author of God's Politics spoke as a guest of the Seminary and the University. I was impressed by his message that we need to stop living in a world of fear, but live in one of hope. He said the answer to terrorism is not military might, but the deeper issue of poverty around the world. While he is more progressive than the President and those who take the view that military might is the answer, I thinnk he says things that would appeal to most Christians. As a Christian sometimes I am disapointed at how a vocal group have narrowly defined what it means to be a Christian. I have a bumpersticker that says " Christian and a Democrat" , but is this truely the oxymoron that the religious right would have us believe? I think too often in society in general we like to use labels to clearly define others, but how often do these labels only create unrealistic divisions? Writing this it would be easy for me to use scripture to defend my beliefs just like those who have differing opnions than I do, but yet they claim those who do not agree with them are not Christians or people of faith, how does that work? I was surprised whe I read that Sen. Bill Frist is a Presbyterian, but there are those labels and the notions we have about them clouding our views of others again.

getting back to the rountine( if there is one)

I started this blog before I left town April 25 for the Princeton Seminary Institute for Youth Ministry and have not had a chance to doing anything with it since. It seems I have been simply catching up. This past weekend I helped lead a new youth event for those in our Presbytery it took place in Rochester and was hosted by Community Presbyterian . Despite the early rain Sat. morning that altered our planned picture scavenger hunt, it still was a great event and hopefully set the ground work for this to become an annual spring event of the Connectional Youth Ministries . With that done it is time to plan for the wrap of our confirmation program this year. We will have out final meeting Thurs. night, an affirmation of baptism with confirmands and families Sat. night and the confirmands will help lead worship on Sunday. Then next Sat is our Education ministry day retreat and Sunday is youth Sunday, so I have a full week of planning both of these events and the end of the school year youth celebration Sunday night. So much for the routine.