Celebrating Four score and Four Years
For me, reaching four score and four years evokes a doxological response. Sustained by grace and upheld through radical surgery the past eighteen months have provided sharpened meaning for and grateful savoring of life. Surrounded by proven friendships and cultivating new relationships at our Becketwood Cooperative home enriches life. My mate of three score years, six children and their mates, and grandchildren shelter me with gentle affection. Gratifying is the affirmation my teaching career received as demonstrated in The Fred and Ruth Bartling Scholarship. Consistent with professorial calling a word may still be spoken for freedom, justice, and equality.Note: Frederick Albert Bartling was born on June 3, 1928. Please visit our Guestbook and pass along a birthday greeting to him!
ATOMIC FISSION : “IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD?”
May 8, 2012
An article in the summer 2012 Washington State University Magazine titled The Atomic Landscape arrested my attention. Discussed is the WWII Manhattan Project and the development of atomic bombs. Hanford Nuclear Reservation in South-Eastern Washington on the Columbia River is where successful atomic fission resulted in building atom bombs. Hanford is in close proximity of river towns Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. Interesting for me is that some students I served as campus chaplain (1952-1958) at Washington State University, a rather short distance from Hanford, were raised in the Hanford environs. They were children during the Manhattan Project period. Their student years paralleled the early Cold War phase. Those years witnessed the start of the nuclear arms race with Soviet Russia. Read more 
BUCKLEY – INDIVIDUALISM/CHRISTIANITY
A recent op ed written by Carl Bogus (Startribune, 11/30/11) arrested my attention. Bogas’ article is titled: “Why all black and white, no gray? For GOP it all starts with Buckley.” The writer suggests the modern conservative movement began 60 years ago when Buckley published “God and Man at Yale” Yale was criticized for two things, Read more
SURPRIZED BY JOY – NEW MATH OF GRACE
Is there anything unique about Christianity? The incarnation of god’s appearing in human form or religious accounts of return from death are shared by various religious traditions. The respected author, C. S. Lewis when asked what is Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions he replied: “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” Read more
AUGUSTINE’S IMPACT ON WESTERN THOUGHT
October 30, 2011
An influential idea in Western thought is that history has a goal and is puposeful. This idea altered the Greek-Roman notion that history and time revoved in meaningless circles with no ultimate goal. With the fall of the Roman Empire to Germanic invaders in 431 AD Augustine, theologian and philosopher, wrote The City of God. This book became a classic source in shaping Western thought. Read more
LINCOLN AND MLK – HATE VS. FORGIVENESS
October 26, 2011
Philip Yancey’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace in the chapter Arsenal of Grace quotes Alexander Solshenitsyn: “Only a small crack. . . . but cracks make caves collapse.” Later in this chapter references are made to Lincoln and Martin Luther King as champions of grace and national reconciliation. Interesting is the fact that the recently dedicaded statue monument of Martin Luther King is across from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was here that King gave his “I Have a Dream Speech”.
Lincoln’s election in November 1860 led to the secession of South Carolina in December and the following February ten more states in the deep South seceeded. Lincoln’ inaugural address Feb. 11, 1861 stated: “We are not enemies but friends”. On February 8th the secessionists created the Confederacy. A four year struggle ensued and left 617,000 casualties on both sides. Total population North and South numbered 40 million (North 30 million, South 10 million of which 4 million were slaves).After four years of struggle Lincoln was urged by vindictive politicians to punish the South. An assassin’s bullet removed Lincoln from leadership and swift reconciliation lead rather to recrimination and bitterness North and South. What might have been? Read more
THE VEILED, HIDDEN, MASKED GOD
Christian ethics speaks of God as veiled, hidden, and masked in the world. Furthermore Christian ethics speak of God’s “hiddenness” made manifest in human vocation. What is meant by these assertions? Read more
WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER! “WHAT’S THE QUESTION?
A car parked in the garage near mine has many admonishing decals displayed on the car trunk area. One reads: WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER! My thought: WHAT’S THE QUESTION? Read more
POLITICS AND THE CHURCH’S BULLY PULPIT
Headline 9/20/2011 in the STARTRIBUNE TWIN CITIES+REGION section: BACHMAN-HAMMOND: JUST THE TICKET FOR OUR TIMES
Writer Jon Tevlin observes that both politics as well as religion make strange bedfellows. Rev. Mac Hammond, local televangelist from Living Word Christian Center has joined as an advisor the Bachmann campaign. Read more
TRAILING CLOUDS OF GLORY DO WE COME
September 8, 2011
A secluded and private space at Becketwood Cooperative is Fernwood Glen. Gigantic century old mature oaks shelter a sprawling wild-flower garden greet the eye. Bench provided offers a place for quiet contemplation. Often I visit here to enjoy the opportunity for private musing and thought. Immediately adjoining is the playground of Minnehaha Academy’s lower grade school. Recently at 12 noon found me at my quiet retreat when noon hour recess released the entire student body for play and exercise. Immediately my ears experienced Read more
