The Pope Speaks

and says this gem..........The clergy sex abuse scandal was sometimes "very badly handled".

Well......no Sh*t Sherlock!

and we went through a Papal Conclave to get him???????????

read more at: http://www.yahoo.com/s/859266

What Bible To Buy

I see that somebody on one of the other blogs has asked for recommendations as to what Bible translation to buy.

It doesn't surprise me that most of the recommendations are some version of the NRSV. I have 2 different NRSV study editions myself. I wonder though, if we liberal folk limit ourselves because we tend to only go for the NRSV.

So I'm going to make some other recommendations; Bibles that will work in UU settings, but aren't the NRSV.

1. The Jerusalem (or New Jerusalem) Bible.
As somebody who loves the poetry of the King James Bible but likes the historical-critical method, this version works for me.

2. The New International Bible or The Amplified Bible.
If you want to know what our conservative brothers and sisters are reading, pick one of these two.

3. The English Standard Bible.
There's nothing that really screams "You need to read me" from this Bible translation, but I still like it.

4. The New American Bible.
This is the official Catholic Bible, and is really good if you want a basic understanding in what Catholics consider their canon and what we Protestants have as ours.

I hope that others who have recommendations will post them.

Enjoy your Bible reading.

On This Day

Since today marks 40 years since the death of Martin Luther King Jr. I thought I would republish an old post that is about him. I'm cutting out some parts, but I think the questions are still valid.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to your sermon, you believe that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been for marriage equality. I couldn't disagree with you more. From everything that I've read and heard about him, Dr. King was a typical black preacher of his time. He would have had a hard time with the women's movement (just look at how he interacted with the women in his life). And if you look at his complex relationship with Bayard Rustin, you can see that Dr. King had more ambivalent feelings about homosexuality than most black preachers. (I know part of the complexity with Rustin was due to Rustin's association with communism, but that's another subject)

So I guess my question is this: is your belief that Dr. King would have been for marriage equality a matter of faith(using Paul's definition of it as being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen)? Or is there something out there about Dr. King that I haven't seen?

My concern is that we liberal religious folk are trying to co-opt people that we admire and use them for causes that we are involved in even though those we admire may not or wouldn't have been.

A Post of Interest

Hello dear readers.......

I'm back after a blogging break and thought I would point you to a post that I think is worth reading.

For those of you who know her, Kim Hampton has a blog talking about her experience at seminary. The most recent post that I've read is about her going to a worship service. Take a read at it:
http://eastofmidnight.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/built-for-silenceor-why-i-am-not-a-quaker

Maybe I'll talk to her some more about it at the Central Midwest District meeting at the end of the month.

"Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner"

Hello all.

Mademoiselle Peacebang sends a note of thanks to Patrick Swayze on both of her blogs. Take a look at them if you're a Swayze fan.

While the focus of Peacebang's posts are Swayze's role in Too Wong Foo, I would just like to put in a word for Dirty Dancing.

I remember the first time I saw Dirty Dancing. The music. The dancing. The setting. Everything combined to make the perfect movie in my teenaged eyes. And then there is my favorite scene, when Baby and Johnny are dancing on the log to "Hey Baby". Ahhhhh.....the height of romance to me. And in many ways is still my standard for romance.

I have truly "had the time of my life" watching Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing. And I know that many wish Patrick a good recovery and many days of dancing ahead.

If You Don't Stand For Something You Will Fall For Anything.....or Why Lent Matters

There's been much discussion of Lent these days on UU blogs. I find that wonderful. As someone who finds the Lenten season more important than any other season in the liturgical year, I like the fact that UUs are actually talking about something that is explicitly Christian.

Anyway....the passage in Mark (1:12-13) that tells of the journey into the wilderness says:

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Jesus, these verses say, was DRIVEN into the wilderness. What does it mean to be driven like that? And to be surrounded by wild beasts yet have angels waiting on him. Wouldn't that have been a sight to see?

It was after this time in the wilderness that Jesus starts his public ministry. It was his public ministry that brought him to his death.

My parents taught me the saying that I'm using for the title of this post. You must stand for something or you will fall for anything. This is part of the reason that Lent matters to me. Jesus stood for something and was willing to die for it. What would I be willing to stand up for and die for if necessary?

In these days, what is the wilderness? What are the wild beasts? Are there angels out there wanting to wait on me?

These are the questions of Lent. And that is why Lent matters. (at least to me)

Daylight Savings Time Starts Sunday, Are You Ready?

Well dear readers, DST starts Sunday. Are you ready? I must admit that I'm not. After my last post on it, that probably comes as no surprise. The only upside this year is that it was already planned that I was going to miss church this Sunday. So at least I won't be one of those people who comes into church late because of the time change.

As you can see, I'm looking for an upside.

Looking For Humor

Hello dear readers.

I'm working on a sermon that is going to be about humor and religion and want suggestions as to who to quote from.

I do have some people picked out...a lot of the usual suspects; Twain, Swift, Colbert and Stewart. Now I'm looking for more on the religion side. Know of any good religious humorists? Or places to look for stuff on religion and humor?

There Should Be No Daylight Savings Time

Hello dear readers.
I needed to know what day Daylight Savings Time starts this year and since it's not in any of the calendars I bought I had to look for it online.

Daylight Savings Time starts on March 9th. March 9th. And it doesn't end until November 1. Eight months (almost)

Does anybody else remember when DST started in April? Mid- to Late April at that? And why do we need it anyway? It doesn't save the energy that they say it does. Why is it in the summer instead of the winter, when you really do need to save sunlight? Why 8 months instead of 6 like it used to be?

As you can see, dear readers, I have no use for DST.

The Single Smartest Decision Made in the 2008 Campaign

Hello dear readers.

As you all may remember, I have said that I have done the only political post I plan on writing. I'm sticking to that. Just barely.

I've been reading some articles the last few days talking about about the different campaigns; how organized or disorganized they are, strengths and weaknesses, etc. I've found them quite interesting, but I've also noticed one thing that hasn't been mentioned.

So dear readers, here's my take on why one campaign is still in this race and not watching it from the sidelines.

The single smartest decision made so far in the 2008 campaign: Barack Obama's campaign is run from Chicago and not Washington.

Maybe there's something about the air out here.

Why I'm Still Writing On This

ChaliceChick asked me why I'm still writing on this. I hope this post will explain some.

I was raised in a very working class home and church was a big part of my life. We did lots of things for the church and traveled quite extensively because of it. I know that this is coloring my view of the whole registration/hotel issue and I don't apologize for that. This is more than about $15 for me.

I find it amazing that other comparably sized religious groups find ways to accomodate those of lesser means and yet we seem to keep having problems.

I know this is a really short explanation, but hopefully it will shed some light on me.

Why Frontenac? or Class and District Assembly pt.2

oh my dear readers! I truly did not expect to start off a firestorm, but I might as well go with it.

Since ChaliceChick did some research on hotels in the area of the Hilton-Frontenac, I decided to do a little more research, both on that hotel and some others. But a little info first.

Last year, in Oak Brook, the rooms were in the $90s (I can't find a hotel receipt but do remember that much), but less than $100, at the Marriott. (I do find it interesting that we will be paying more in a suburb of St. Louis than we did in a suburb of Chicago)

In 2006, in downtown Madison, the rooms were $85.

In 2005, in Arlington Heights (another suburb of Chicago), the rooms were $74 at the Sheraton.

So I don't think it's irrational to ask this question: WHY FRONTENAC?

Here is a little info on the Hilton-Frontenac: it has 263 rooms and it's normal rate is $143.10. Yet if the district had chosen the Hilton at the St. Louis Airport, it would have picked a bigger hotel (395 rooms) and one with a lower rate ($89.00).

But even more than that......why choose Frontenac, which only has 1 choice, when you could have gone to the airport or Westport and had many?

Let's look at some more hotels at the airport.

The Renaissance has 393 rooms and a rate of $89.00. The Marriott has 601 rooms and a cost of $89.00. Both of these would have had ample meeting space. Then there are the smaller hotels if one needed/wanted to go elsewhere. And most are within walking distance

Then there's Westport (as you can see, I know a little about where hotels are clustered in St. Louis). The biggest hotel at Westport is the Sheraton. It has 2 hotels there with a combined number of rooms of 510 (300 in one and 210 in the other) and ample meeting space. There are also a number of hotels in/around Westport within walking distance of the Sheraton if people wanted to stay somewhere else for whatever reason.

So again.......WHY FRONTENAC?

Class and District Assembly, or What I'm Asking For pt.2

Well dear readers I'm having so much fun being in a cranky mood I think I'll stay that way.

I decided to look up a few things about where the CMwD assembly is going to be. I'm not thrilled. So here's the next thing I'm asking for.

CAN WE NOT HAVE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE SUBURBS??????

This year the assembly is in Frontenac, a ritzy suburb of St. Louis. Last year the assembly was in Oak Brook, one of the ritzy suburbs of Chicago. Not only do these suburbs have class issues, these suburbs also have racial issues. Why are we picking places like these? Aren't there hotels that fit the district's requirements that are in places other than Frontenac and Oak Brook? Or are we really trying to send subliminal messages to those in lower socio-economic classes and to people of color that we don't really want you?

Some People We Want Are On A Fixed Income, or What I'm Asking For

Hello dear readers.

Ogre asks me what I'm looking for when I'm talking about things related to District Assembly. I think that's a legitimate question and one that should be it's own post instead of a comment on the last post.

Ok....here's what I'm asking for. If you'll read my post "Sleeping Arrangements", you'll see that I'm asking that there be a lower cost alternative to the ritzy hotels that we use for the annual meeting. That is the fixed cost. And I know that it might just be the way I was raised, but when the "special" room rate is $105+tax, then we're talking about the only people who can afford that are in a different tax bracket (or have expense accounts). Unless there are 4 people in a room, that is a high cost for a church meeting.

What I'm asking for is the acknowledgement that there are people in our churches who want to be involved who are in fixed incomes, and try to make some accomodations for that. All the great religions ask us to remember the least of these. Doesn't seem to be much rememberance of that in UU circles.

As for the students, it still goes back to the fixed costs of the hotel room and transportation, as you can always bring your own food and food costs are mutable. But that is still $105+tax for 2 nights. If there were a lower cost alternative, then maybe there would be greater participation by people of all socio-economic classes in the work of our districts and association.

That's what I'm asking for.

Yet Another Thing About District Assembly

I seem to be having problems with both GA and District Assembly this year. Must be going through a cranky phase.

Anyway, dear readers, I went through the brochure for the CMwD meeting again and saw that there is a Young Adult/Full-Time Student rate of $45. But guess what, dear friends; your meals are not included and you still have to pay for your room.

So not only do you still have to pay for a room, pay to get to St. Louis and pay $45 registration, you have to pay for ALL your food. So I guess the District is telling you to bring your own or starve.

Ain't being a UU grand?????

Sleeping Arrangements At District Assembly

Well hello again dear readers.

Steve Caldwell brings up the idea of using local churches as places for people to sleep during District meetings as a way to cut down costs.

I'm all for options, and that is one, but I must be honest and say that my preference is a bed. I just think we ought to be able to find less expensive beds, be able to cut the registration fee and still have a good meeting.

Is there any way that there could be alternative options as far as hotels go? Have the ritzy hotel and have a Days Inn as the other option?

When are we going to acknowledge that the best way to get people to participate is to not have too many financial obstacles in their way?

Even More On The District Meeting

Hello again my dear readers.

H Sofia reminded me that I had not included the price of meals into my analysis of the upcoming CMwD annual meeting. And I must thank her for that.

Lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday seem to be the only meals included. But where does that leave all us hungry souls on Friday when we arrive in St. Louis? Up ---- creek it looks like to me. So that means one must add something to our $621.14 total for a meal on Friday. Let's assume that you can get a meal for $15-$20/person. (might be pushing it there, as I don't know if there are any restaurants around the hotel and you know the price of a hotel restaurant is going to be more than that) So the price of dinner on Friday will be anywhere between $35 and $50 depending on taxes and tips.

Let's add it up again friends. $621.14+$35=$656.14. Or it could be $621.14+$50=$671.14.

So that means a party of two can do District Assembly for the low, low price of $700. (almost)

And yet we talk about wanting to grow. Growth and expansion of representation doesn't happen when it costs $700 do be a part of things.

It's District Meeting Time

Hello dear readers.

I'm looking over the brochure for the Central Midwest District annual meeting and can't help but think about how, in many ways, hypocritical we are.

Registration for the meeting is $155 for a full-time adult. This doesn't count dinner on Saturday evening, which is $35. So, before adding in the price of the hotel room, the price is $190 per adult. Now let's add in the hotel room. The special price for our meeting is $105/night. If you are going to stay both nights (since our meeting runs Fri-Sun), that comes to $210+taxes (which are 14.83%). That total is $241.14. Let's imagine that a couple wants to come to the meeting. Let's add it up, shall we. $155x2=$310. Add in the price of a room which will be $241.14. Add in the banquet at $35/person for a total of $70. The grand total for 3 days at a UU meeting will be $621.14.

$621.14?!?!?!?!?!?

This total, my friends, doesn't even include the cost of getting to St. Louis for those of us who are not locals.

$621.14

And yet we seem to talk a lot about trying to include as many UUs in the process as possible. Why don't we quit telling that tall tale. If we wanted more people involved, we would find a way to do this less expensively.

I know......if you volunteer for two hours the registration gets reduced to $115. Even if both people in my scenario above volunteer, the price is STILL $541.14+expense of getting to St. Louis.

As much as we don't want to talk about it, we don't want you if you can't afford to be one of us.
(and yes, dear readers, I have the same complaint about GA)

Birthday Thoughts.....and More Thoughts On General Assembly

Hello dear readers.

Yes, your trusty servant shares her birthday with Honest Abe and Charles Darwin. I must say that that's hard to live up to.

Anyway.....a couple of thoughts that went through my mind as I was walking about in the bad weather here today......
-Why was Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "My Momma Told Me" running through my head?
-Weather really does change one's mood

But on to the GA stuff........
I'm trying to understand those who say that there's nobody at fault here. I'm sorry friends but somebody must be responsible for this mess. (I'm only talking about on the UUA side, this is NOT about Homeland Security)
I don't know how many of you remember this little bit of news.....but.....the GA Planning Committee went to the UUA Board sometime in 2007 and asked if it would be ok to move the 2010 GA, which is set for the Twin Cities, to another city if their labor issues were not resolved.
(long story....but my understanding is that they have been resolved)
I bring this up only to ask the following question.....since the Planning Committee was given assurances that the security checks would be gone, when they saw that they weren't (in 2005 or 2006), why did they not do the same thing they did with regards to the 2010 GA? The Planning Committee could have gone to Board and asked for the exact same thing. And, if they had done it early enough, they could have gotten out of this mess and moved GA to a different city.
This, my dear readers, is why I believe somebody must be responsible for this situation. And let me state for the record that I don't blame or fault the GA Staff; this is not their mess. They have to live with it just like those of you who will be going to GA.

Real ID and General Assembly pt.3

Hello dear readers.

As many of you can tell by now, my mind gets twisted around things and won't let them go. This whole showing ID to get into the convention center is one of those things.

If you live in a state that cannot/does not comply with the Real ID law (there are 5 that have said they will not comply and 15 that might not be able to comply), then come May 11, you are going to have problems entering federal buildings, not to mention getting on a plane.

With the convention center being in a federal security zone, I have no doubt that Real ID is going to be enforced.

I doubt that any members of the GA Planning Committee read this blog. If by chance any do, I beg you to find out what the implications of Real ID are going to be on the convention center and get that out to the wider UU community fast.

As for those of you who are planning to go to GA, make sure your Passport is in order. And if you need an updated one, jump on it. It takes 4-6 weeks for you to receive it once you've turned in everything you have to turn in, so that means you have only a few more weeks to work it out.