God twitters Creation

Most of my family has been abed with the plague (aka "flu-like symptoms"), so there's not much news here. However, I found this in my fevered perusing today, and it amused me no end. Too good not to share.

God Twitters Creation

God: Gosh its dark in here.
7 days ago

God: There thats better.
7 days ago

God: Hey guys im finally on twitter! Whats up?
7 days ago

God: guys?
7 days ago

God: oh right. i’m the only thing in existence, haha.
7 days ago

God: shut up i wasnt talking 2 you RT @Satan I TOO EXIST
7 days ago

God: BOOORREEDD with endless void gonna make some stuff
7 days ago

*********

Read the rest here. What a hoot!

EpiscoNinjas!

Sick

I am a Christian.

This means that I believe in God in all those complicated, messy, Triune forms. All that Nicene Creed stuff? Yes, all of it-- without crossing my fingers even once. I try to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. I fall way short of perfection, but I'm glad to keep plugging away.

I know-- you've already figured that out, yes? This is not shocking news.

But this is:

Churches involved in torture, murder of thousands of African children denounced as witches

The idea of witchcraft is hardly new, but it has taken on new life recently partly because of a rapid growth in evangelical Christianity. Campaigners against the practice say around 15,000 children have been accused in two of Nigeria's 36 states over the past decade and around 1,000 have been murdered. In the past month alone, three Nigerian children accused of witchcraft were killed and another three were set on fire...

I am angered and ashamed beyond words of the evil done by purported Christians-- those "brothers" and "sisters" enmeshed in a warped, manipulative "discipleship" that has nothing to do with following the Prince of Peace.

There's a scar above Jane's shy smile: her mother tried to saw off the top of her skull after a pastor denounced her and repeated exorcisms costing a total of $60 didn't cure her of witchcraft. Mary, 15, is just beginning to think about boys and how they will look at the scar tissue on her face caused when her mother doused her in caustic soda. Twelve-year-old Rachel dreamed of being a banker but instead was chained up by her pastor, starved and beaten with sticks repeatedly; her uncle paid him $60 for the exorcism.

Israel's cousin tried to bury him alive, Nwaekwa's father drove a nail through her head, and sweet-tempered Jerry — all knees, elbows and toothy grin — was beaten by his pastor, starved, made to eat cement and then set on fire by his father as his pastor's wife cheered it on.

The children at the home run by Itauma's organization have been mutilated as casually as the praying mantises they play with.

So, all you eager schismatics-- tell me again how "Global South" Christianity is somehow more faithful, more vibrant, more aligned with the Gospel than what we practice in mainline America.

Go ahead-- just try.

Evensong...

And another of Susan Werner's songs, from the same album. Good stuff, this.



I Will Have My Portion

And some would say
That time has passed me by
And some would say
That the wells have all run dry
Some would say
That's how its meant to be
So some would say
But I beg to disagree

Cause I know good fortune waits for me somewhere
I will have my portion I will have my share
I'll keep my feet in motion til they carry me there
I will have my portion I will have my share

Cause I do believe
There's a harvest in the field
I do believe
There's truth to be revealed
I do believe
There's treasure to be found
And I do believe
There's enough to go around

I know good fortune waits for me somewhere
I will have my portion I will have my share
I'll keep my feet in motion til they carry me there
I will have my portion I will have my share

Cause somewhere there's a blessing and it bears my name
and soon or late, it's coming to me just the same
Can't wait to see
What's set aside for me
With every new sunrise
I'm gonna keep my eyes wide open

Song of the day

Forgiveness – Susan Werner

How do you love those who never will love you,
Who are happy to shove you out in front of the train?
How do you not hate those who would leave you lie bleeding
While they hold their prayer meeting?

How do you love those who never will love you,
Who are so frightened of you they are calling for war?
How do you not hate those who have loaded their Bibles
And armed their disciples? 'cuz I don't know anymore.

And I can't find forgiveness for them anywhere in this
And with God as my witness I really have tried.
How do you love those who never will love you?
I think only God knows and he is not taking sides.
I hope one day he shows us how we can love those
Who never will love us but who still we must love.
How do you love those?