Overstatement - Latest Comments

Re: Guaranteed Appointments

brisbane seo — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 04:01:33 -0000

That doesn't guarantee we'll ever reach it. For many generations of Americans, it only guaranteed a life of toil and the hope of a better life for their ...

Re: Wrong

Markgranier — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 13:59:23 -0000

Thanks for the link, very disturbing.

Capital punishment is wrong because it puts something even more rotten at the heart of any state (which is governed after all by venal, fallible humans): the Olympian power, in peacetime, to legally kill another individual.

Then there was the Edward Earl Johnson case, and the documentary Fourteen Days in May:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

That film should make any thinking person question the death penalty.

Re: Guaranteed Appointments

Daniel — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:05:53 -0000

What an excellent post, with many ideas that transfer between denominations. In the UCC, of course, there is some admiration of systems that have the job security of the UMC and Episcopalians, even as we have a significantly different system. But the issues of systemic leadership funding, support of local churches and effective partnership between them and the regional and national settings, are growing by the day rather than being resolved by the day. It's a great time to be the church, but the challenges are daunting. Thanks for the linkback!

Re: Guaranteed Appointments

yahoo — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:57:59 -0000

While reviewing pros and cons on the guaranteed appointment for clergy, a major issue seems to have not been properly commented whether or not a given congregation is properly nourished under the properly nourished in a good social or family environment.
The ministry is the process of once’ lifetime spiritual evolution during the dedicated pastoral life.
I observed many successful clergies in latter although once so lightly treated as incompetent.
Thus, the congregation has to provide mutually acceptable civility in mutually nourishable ground.
According to our family experience in the Korean United Methodist Church and Institute, New York, as long as one has a strong personal ties with the district superintendent and some clergies closed to the episcopacy, even the looting the church treasury could be done very easily without any objection, of course he has to have a group of power hungry supporters who are seeking for any status in any form in any means, no any moral requirement.
Rev. Won Tae Chae was skilled able navigator in the murky stream of his own creation, which was only possible in the naive immigrant church.
He had a moonlighting full time job at New York Theological Seminary for ten years while the congregation in disarray. Who cares? After he was removed, always, the same kind replacement assigned as if in mob connection. In the incidents, why these guys need any job guarantee when they have their own source of the juice?
Last twenty years, the historic church has been under seize of like these the well trained dishonest clergies and supers, etc. Needless today, the flow of the street guys comes to manage the church. It is noticed once the course established there is endless human resources of the kind to fill in.
When Rev. Won Tae Cha group took over the church treasury, he filed three lawsuits against us to cover up the looting. For one case, they charge my son and me as attempted mass murders, place us on the trial at the New York State Supreme Court –my son
demanded all damages $8,000. Now Rev. Cha works for the Bishop Jeremiah J. Park - very smelly. They should return the stolen church money. Anything can go even in the church if one has the money and power.
I wonder, If the guaranteed appointment system established, like our church will disappear in time unless the street people stops coming in force to inherit the oppressive corrupt offices.
I have noticed many questionable characters are serving as trustees or directors in the church organizations.
I have tried to reflect our experiences to the bishops and other clergies.
So far no response from any Jesus people as we were not black enough nor white enough at all. Needless to say, it seems to be the moral climate of UMC, very insensitive to any church moral issues but the job.
I warmed our young assistant pastors not to be a tool of the corrupt ministry. Speaking out is risking their jobs.
Thus, according to the experience, the UMC’s immediate critical issue is the moral crisis to urgently implement an “in-house cleaning.” Then, who needs a guarantee? Endangered species.
How this story could be told to the Jesus people?
IS there anybody in UMC?
Reference; Website. :: 기독일보 Christianity Daily How long the church scandals should go without punishment? ... KOREAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND INSTITUTE, REVEREND WON TAE CHA, YOUNG SO KIM, ...

Re: God’s Initiative

Bryan Hooper — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:38:40 -0000

First off - thank you for making a comment on my neglected blog. That puts you in a very elite group.

Second of all - I think Bonhoeffer understood revelation exactly as you seem to object to - as something that comes from beyond ourselves, that is not readily deducible by observation - but that is purely the result of God's grace and intention. Revelation is not "observed" but "disclosed." I think Bonhoeffer would argue that the "eyes of faith" are a gracious gift that God extends to us, allowing us to perceive God's working in the world.

Re: God’s Initiative

Bob — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:30:36 -0000

Although I agree with much of what you wrote, I'm curious about what you mean by "revelation." It sounds like it's something that comes from outside of us and that faith is necessary to perceive it. What if revelation is a way of perceiving the world as created by God? Then, it doesn't rely upon God "giving" it to us, but on our own decision to view ourselves, others and the world through the "eyes of faith."

Re: Looking west…

Swing Trading — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:55:05 -0000

Nice one. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. My friends will enjoy reading it also.

Re: Social Justice?

Bryan Hooper — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:30:43 -0000

Thanks. You are my biggest fan.

Re: Social Justice?

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:41:31 -0000

"Bothering them endlessly. Bothering them relentlessly. Bothering them with passion, commitment, energy. Things won’t change just because they should. Someone has to start bothering the comfortable people in power."
beautifully said. i love you.

Re: Thoughts on invocations and benedictions…

husnain — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:32:55 -0000

"They have great topics like this one on www.energytalkradio.com and donate 30% to charity! Check them out."

Re: A sign of the church’s failure….

mtcurry — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:53:20 -0000

I think your post is right on and points to the issues we have with institutional survival: are we as the Church so interested in preserving our ecclesiastical and national institutions that we will also -- actively or silently -- support the institutionalized violence in our names?

Re: A sign of the church’s failure….

Bryan Hooper — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:23:33 -0000

I think that is the best comment I've ever seen on any blog.

I infer from your comments that you are sarcastic.

Re: A sign of the church’s failure….

Joiarib — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:17:53 -0000

What would Cormac McCarthy say about your inability to distinguish "infer" from "imply"?

Re: Overstatement » Thoughts on Advent from Steve Bauman….

Guest — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:48:18 -0000

Don't stop learning people. Just keep at it and you'll get it eventually.

Re: Another day, another crime.

landlord building insurance — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:56:32 -0000

the cops are always late where i cam from

Re: Ashes to ashes…

Jason — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:39:43 -0000

"We are ironically liberated by our awareness of our limitations."
Excellent words, Hooper.

Re: Thoughts on invocations and benedictions…

Bryan Hooper — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:20:19 -0000

Thanks for your continued input. I'm glad you read the archives and found them somewhat useful.

Your comments have encourage me to think a bit about what this blog is for and who it is for, etc.

Originally, I started this blog (in a number of different formats) for my personal use and for sharing of ideas with a few friends who were my only audience. Eventually, i began to follow a number of United Methodist blogs, and decided to join the Methoblogroll and share my thoughts with the wider UM community.

In my estimation, too many blogs have comments full of back and forth diatribes that seem rather useless to me. I am not really interested in argument or debate. I get enough of that in the rest of my life believe me! I'm just interested in expressing myself and hearing others do the same - which is far different from tit for tat debate.

As far as the Bible goes, I assue you that I encourage everyone I know to read it - I so encourage people from my pulpit, in the Bible studies I lead, in the committees I lead, etc. I take the Bible seriously, and I believe it merits serious reflection and study, not proof-texting and reductionism.

I also advocate for spiritual practice and discipline, and have done so in all the congregations I serve. To me, reading the Bible and developing a spiritual practice are the two most important things individual Christians can do. Communially, of course, we also benefit from the regular attendance of worship, the sharing in the sacraments, and Christian conferencing. I'm sorry that I haven't more clearly advocated for Bible study and spiritual discipline via this blog, but again, that was never it's purpose.

With blogs becoming more and more popular, and more and more people reading this blog, perhaps I should reconsider:

1. Should this blog exist at all? I post plenty of informatino on the internet in other forums without this blog. If this blog becomes a lightening rod for debate, instead of a forum for exchange, I'm just not interested.

2. Should I post some more fundamental posts on basics for the uninitiated who would like a better sense of who I am and where I'm coming from?

3. Should I simply close the comments?

Your thoughts are appreciated, of course.

Re: Thoughts on invocations and benedictions…

Joiarib — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:16:55 -0000

Your response is disappointing on a number of levels. First, of course, is that you publish your thoughts, musings, and opinions for all the world to read—and invite comments on them—but then you don’t want to engage in a discussion about them. (And I don’t see why you have to characterize our exchange as an argument.) Surely you believe in a civil exchange of ideas, as well as the possibility that you could learn as well as teach. I presume—perhaps wrongly—that you don’t demand blind allegiance from your congregation but are willing to listen to their points of view. Don’t your virtual congregants deserve the same courtesy?

Second, your advising me to read the Bible strikes me as both clichéd and a bit disingenuous. I would have thought that at least you would have coupled the Bible with some sacred scripture from outside the paternalistic Judeo-Christian tradition. The Vedas or Analects, perhaps. More significantly, after reviewing the archives of your blog, I find the word “Bible” occurs only once before (five months ago) and nowhere else have you suggested that such reading is useful or helpful. Why bring it up now? (Reviewing the archive was beneficial, though; it introduced me to the wonderful Orwellian term “reproductive justice.”)

Third, your glib dismissal of me with "Good luck to you," strikes me as uncharitable and hurtful. Am I not as worthy of your ministrations as are the least and lost? Could I not be, in fact, among the least and lost?

Finally, if your claim that the world is one blog shy of perfect is correct, perhaps mine, posted here, is the one that can bring it to perfection.

Re: Thoughts on invocations and benedictions…

Bryan Hooper — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:03:53 -0000

I think it is pretty clear that you don't agree with me. I respect your difference of opinion, but I am unwilling to turn my comments here into some kind of argument. I'm sure you can find more interesting sparring partners in other venues.

I would again encourage you to find an effective spiritual practice and to read the Bible. Good luck to you!

Re: Thoughts on invocations and benedictions…

Joiarib — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:54:17 -0000

What exactly don't you follow about Warren's comments in the clip you post? He says that a biological disposition to a behaviour does not mean that the behaviour should be indulged. Is this not true? I assume you have seen the film M.

As for Obama's choice of Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation, it seems perfectly logical given thier identical stances on gay marriage.

Re: Election: what’s all the fuss about?

Bryan Hooper — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:53:05 -0000

Wow.

Well, not sure how to respond to that. I guess I would just suggest that maybe you could read Carter (since you obviously haven't) but I don't think that would be of much use for you. What I would really suggest is that you consider adopting a spiritual discipline and read the Bible. All I can tell you is those two basic practices have made a big impact on my life.

Re: Election: what’s all the fuss about?

Joiarib — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:41:29 -0000

You list Carter's anti-Semitic screed under "recent books." As for your reflection on your own post, that's a very clever way to forestall criticism. If Obama cannot match the expectations that you have place on him, certainly no mere human being could.

Re: Election: what’s all the fuss about?

Bryan Hooper — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:20:11 -0000

I'm not sure what you are asking me....I have read some of Jimmy Carter's books...but not many and certainly not all....

I re-read this post, and realized that it was written in a moment of exuberance after Obama's election. The exuberance has faded now...and I wonder if there is any way for Obama (or any human being) to match the expectations that have been placed onhim....

Re: Election: what’s all the fuss about?

Joiarib — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:04:02 -0000

Do you really read Jimmy Carter?

Re: Thoughts on invocations and benedictions…

Shawn Lang — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:08:19 -0000

I think that the Boswell book is particularly compelling. Thanks for posting this Bryan. You're a true comrade in the struggle!

Peace
Shawn