Hey! Hope you're having a great Father's Day. I had a thought that hit me in Sunday School this morning, that I wanted to share, that I hope, perhaps, won't offend. I've been mulling and stewing these last couple of days, as most of you know. And I popped in here for a minute while taking a break from all the Father's Day activities.
Here's my thought. There's a story in Acts right after the Day of Pentecost. In it, Peter and John are arrested for preaching in the temple about Jesus. All the Sanhedrin (made up of the Pharisees, Saducees - basically the leaders of the Jewish temple) gathered and tried to decide what to do abouth them.
Well, one guy, Gameliel (I think that's how you spell his name - would have to look it up and my Bible is on the other end of the house and I'm being lazy) stood up and said, something like this. He said, we have put down uprisings in the past. In those days, the Romans just tolerated the Jewish folks. They weren't officially recognized as a religion, because according to the Romans, Caesar was the head of all things. It was feared by many of the Jewish leaders that anything that brought about too much attention, i.e., riots, etc., might also bring the Roman government down on them as well, and they would lose their ability to carry out their religious life as they had been accustomed.
So Gameliel stood up and reminded them of the movements they had stoppd in the past - zealouts who wanted to fight against Rome. But he said that if this Christian movement was of God, then there was nothing they could do to stop it anyway. No matter how hard they tried. Then, knowing that he had a point, they had Peter and John flogged and then sent them on their way, telling them to not preach about Jesus anymore.
Funny thing was, the very next day they were back in the temple preaching.
Here's how this relates in my mind. Many times we have heard people say that this group of rag tag folk from so many different areas of the country, oh wait, Canada too (eh?), have come together for a reason. I know we all have different political, and religious beliefs and thats fine. But I do believe that God has a hand in all things good. And for me and Rhonda, this group has been good. Its amazing to me that I can think about so many people whom I have never even really met, and pray for them and worry about them, and think of them when I use words like guano in Scrabble.
But in that I can see God's hand. At whatever level, and for whatever reason, we have been given the gift of friendship - of Maelstrom. We do worry with each other. We care for each other. We're friends. Things happen sometimes. We are not always in control of our own lives and the decisions that other people make always effect us, whether we want them to or not.
But as I see it, if this is a gift from God, there's nothing anyone can really do to keep us apart. Sure, our presence may not be deemed desirable in particular places. But there are enough of us with email addresses that we will stay in contact, regardless of what might happen. We're making a pilgrimage to Norway in October, for crying out loud. In my mind, this is a God thing. All of us needed what has happened here or we wouldn't have found the deep friendships that has come so quickly.
So chins up Vikings. Even mine. Our friendships are bigger than any silly old lock down. God is bigger than any person in any position of power on this earth - even President Bush.
In my mind this is of God. And in the words of Gameliel, if it is, there's nothing anyone can do to stop it.
Maelstrom!
Blessings!
MarkyMark
Thought of you in church this AM. Our asst pastor, also Markymark, preached.
Marky, you know, that was just a nice message, and really inspiring. Glad you aren't jumping ship. But I did read your tr over there, you know in that other place. I am following it! You rock, rev. Loubon! Too cute, luckily, Chappie changed his mind in adulthood! He's all mine now! 
But I don't blame him for kissing Lala. She is mighty sweet! 
