America, the Secular, Part 3

I've written here two posts on "America, the Secular," emphasizing the fact that the United States was established as the world's first secular nation, having no preferred state religion---official or unofficial. Brent Walker, of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, in Washington, DC, has written an excellent article concerning " Top Five Myths of Separation of Church and State." I commend this article to you---just click on the article title to read it.

The Need for Grace

Today (Mon., Sep 13) follows a weekend of extreme highs and lows, a weekend of remembered pain and sorrow, a weekend in which the already-volatile emotions of people around the world simmered everywhere and exploded in some places.

Many Christians began this day, as they do many days, with a prayer to God we call "A Collect for Grace" which (in its classic form) reads:

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God,
Who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day:
Defend us in the same with thy mighty power;
and grant that this day we fall into no sin,
neither run into any kind of danger;
but that we, being ordered by thy governance,
may do always what is righteous in thy sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I commend this prayer to you (modernize it, if you desire), as one good way to begin each day.

If you wish to read more about this prayer and how it has been prayed by various Christian faith groups over the centuries, Click Here. The article is by a friend and colleague, Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, OSL, of the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church.

A Case of Butterflies

May little things always surprise us and increase our joy.

I went out this morning (Monday, July 12) to take bags and boxes to the curb for pickup---for me dreary but necessary.

Recently I've added 3 planters full of yellow Lantana which, this morning, due to yesterday's torrential rains are awash in blooms. During the 20 minutes or so I was in and out, I was surprised, first by a gorgeous butterfly---black outlines and irridescent blue wing panels---the first I've ever seen in my yard.

Soon the first one was joined by another---black outlines and panels but covered with lots of sun-yellow spots. They intertwined and danced together flitting from bloom to bloom.

What a way to begin a day. (Especially a Monday!)

America, the Secular, Part 2

Excerpts of a recent editorial by Wayne Laugesen published in The Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colo., were reprinted in today's edition of The Villages Daily Sun, The Villages, Fla. The Daily Sun ran this on their Opinion page under the title "God is concept, not a religion, U.S. court rules."

The full text of the Gazette editorial can be seen at:
http://www.gazette.com/opinion/stop-95654-claus-view.html

Essentially, this item reiterates the legal/constitutional distinctions made between use of the term "God" in American social discourse and how/whether using the term "God" is, in and of itself, an affirmation of religion and a violation of the principle of "separation of church and state."

The case, brought by athiest Dr. Michael Newdow, was heard and dismissed by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, often referred to as "the most liberal federal court in the land."

Laugesen's editorial is not only interesting to those of us who strongly adovcate for separation of church and state, but is compelling in the construction and presentation of his argument. I recommend his editorial for your consideration.