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I am an American BY choice!!!

Happy 4th!!

ron

A Phoenix pastor and his family took a vacation and family reunion in Montana a few years ago. On Sunday morning he gathered the family, looked in the local phone book and found a Lutheran church, and headed down the road. They arrived in many cars with license plates from everywhere but Montana. The locals saw this and immediately approached them and welcomed them to the church. He told them that he was a pastor from Phoenix and that these were some of his family. Then the people in the church asked him if they were Missouri Synod Lutherans - well, no, they were ELCA Lutherans (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America). 'Well, today is Holy Communion Sunday and you won't be able to commune with us," they said. Before the pastor could say anything, his family whisked him away.

My friend, Rev. Jan Flaaten spent some time wandering from monastery to monastery in Greece. On day he came to the Xieroptamu monastery on Mt. Athos. When dinner time came, Jan was invited to sit outside the dining room will the Orthodox ate first. After the Orthodox had eaten, Jan was invited in to eat whatever was left over. He says it was a quiet dinner as he sat alone by himself. Later he went to worship - again he was invited to sit outside the front door and listen. To the Orthodox at that monastery, he was a 'gentile' or outsider.

What do you think?

Yesterday, my good friend, Joe went to heaven.

I found this little card in his wallet:

IDEAS TO DEFEAT YOU

1. I should never make any mistakes. When I do, it's terrible. It's awful and I can't stand it.

2.Other people should alway appreciate me. When they don't, it's terrible. It's awful and I can't stand it.

3. Other people should do what I want to them to. When they don't, it's terrible. It's awful and I can't stand it.

IDEAS TO HELP YOU

1. I am not perfect and I do make mistakes. It's tough and I don't like it but with God's help I will make it.

2. The fact is people don't always show their appreciation. It's tough and i don't like it but I will get over it.

3. People will not always do what I want. It may be tough and I may not like it, but with God's help I will make it.

My friend, Joe died this morning at 7:20 AM (MST). He was 51 years young. I have spent almost every weekend with Joe at the nursing home for the past five years (either Saturday or Sunday). June and I also included him in our family Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations when he was able to leave the nursing home. He was an absolutley avid NY Yankees fan and would always tell you that Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever! He had memorbilia around his bed to prove his dedication. Most of all, Joe was greatful for about 15 years of clean and sober living. Each day he would remind everyone that his Higher Power was JESUS!

Last year I wrote the following blog when we celebrated his 51st Birthday:

"This afternoon, June and I and about 5 other fellow followers of Jesus went to visit the nursing home where 'Joe' lives. We went to celebrate Joe's 51st Birthday. We shared cheese pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Ice cream and cake, party favors - red noses, hats and noise makers. Then Joe opened gifts we brought. Joe had to admit this was a special birthday this year - he has been on hospice most of the year. He has been on death's door several times. Now he was sitting on his wheelchair, on oxygen - laughing, talking, enjoying opening his gifts. The staff and other residents experienced the love of Christ and fellowship of the Spirit as we ministered to Joe. They know that this kind of fellowship is very rare for many who live there."

Be at peace, Joe.

The following was posted by Mr. Len Munsil, 2007 Republican candidate for Arizona Governor on his blog:

LOSING FAITH IN OUR LEADERS, AND OURSELVES
June 20, 2007

The latest Gallup polling data indicates that Americans have lost faith in their leaders and are pessimistic about the future.

Congressional approval is at just 14 percent -- the lowest since Gallup began measuring in the 1970s. President Bush doesn't do much better.

It's not hard to see why. Despite a booming economy, many concerns have not been addressed. Democrats are furious with their leaders for failing to cut off funding for the Iraq war. Republicans are angry at Republican leaders for failing to secure the border and failing to control spending. And both parties have seen members indicted and convicted for corruption.

But the problem with the American psyche transcends our elected leaders. We are pessimistic about Iraq, about jobs, about gas prices ... about the future.

Without question we face many threats. But we remain the freest, most prosperous nation on earth. We are still the land of opportunity. And we have the capacity through the democratic process to change those things in our leadership with which we disagree.

Martin Luther King Jr. said "American is essentially an idea." We must regain faith in the power of our American ideas -- of liberty, of justice, of freedom. We remain the last, best hope for mankind on earth. Now is not the time to lose heart.

Here is my response:

Len, you wrote, "But we remain the freest, most prosperous nation on earth. We are still the land of opportunity. And we have the capacity through the democratic process to change those things in our leadership with which we disagree."

Freedom, opportunity and the democratic process do not guarantee happiness. I think we as a nation have lost our soul.

Some people want to trust their leadership to lead them to happiness. But they have concluded that their leaders cannot lead them to happiness anymore than a new car, a bigger house in the burbs, a new spouse, a 12,500 point Dow or a fine wine.

What you wrote is a diagnosis of our spiritual emptines..

The question is, will the church seize the opportunity or keep sending their youth to Disneyland, building mulitimillion dollar hotel-looking edifices, and preaching 'how you can be happy in 3 easy steps' sermons.

What do think?