have an online Bible study group.

The original top ten list, you know, the one for which everyone thinks that Charlton Heston was responsible, has been popping in and out of my consciousness a great deal in the last few weeks.

Last week the sermon included a story of how Bishop Spong once asked the congregation for a show of hands of the people who thought the Ten Commandments were very important. (If you recall several years ago it seemed every week there was a new protest of sorts regarding a monument or plaque containing the Ten Commandments). We’ll just about every hand in the congregation went up – people were so passionate about declaring the importance of them. Then he asked for a volunteer to stand and recite them, silence. People just didn’t know them.

I have been playing with the idea of writing a secular reflection on the Ten Commandments for a long while. I have some notes and such and really want to see if its possible. Well I know its possible, but not sure if it will be interesting.

So we’ll see, lots more work needs to be; correction, lots more time needs to be found to the do the work, and then perhaps I’ll have something.

today Matt tweeted ””His steadfast love endures forever” occurs 42 times in the Bible” with a link to fascinating website

A little off the goal, but perhaps not as much as one would think.

The other day when some lady yelled at me for my Obama sticker and flag I responded with “Peace of the Lord be always with you.” That freaked her out and shut her up rather quickly.

What are your thoughts on Scripture come-backs to unpleasant situations? I am sure every one of us has opportunities thrust upon us whereby a good Scriptural Snap would have more power than “up yours” – got any favourite Scriptural Snaps?

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men…

I often reflect on this passage on Soup Kitchen Saturdays. I know there are people who would like to help us more but because of obligations elsewhere they cannot.

Often those of us with the greatest desire to make a difference feel as if we are not doing enough. Life, friends, family, work, they are all obstacles that prevent us from doing the things we feel we must do.

I find this passage from Galatians to be most reassuring in times like these. Even God seems to understand that the opportunity to make a difference doesn’t always present itself conveniently. Remember even Jesus retreated to the desert for a while to get away from things, when He returned and the opportunity presented itself He did what He had to do.

There are many among us who place a burden of guilt on ourselves for not doing more for others. Opportuniites will present themselves, remember, God knows what is on our hearts.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119 : 105 KJV

Sometimes the things that define us, and motivate us, and light our fire are not the things that we purposely sought, but those things that were right under our nose the whole time, and only when someone lifts a lamp do we see them.

In an interesting twist of events, it has been the political climate in the United States that has made me realize this. Again and again I find myself responding to people with the retort “and this glorifies Jesus commandments to Love God and Love One Another how?” But all the speaking, and fastening magnetic bumper stickers to my car doesn’t mean as much as taking action. And I don’t mean action a candidate, but taking action for God. Being that Christian warrior in the really tradtional sense, the kind whose battles are fought in the battlefields of hopelessness; where the weapon is love.

Dammit. It took a drag queen dressed as Anna Nicole Smith to make me realize this. (She was at a fundraiser for the soup kitchen, and he was surprised that I as one of the church people would be so hositable to her). THAT was the moment, the light bulb went off, or rather the lamp was lifted, to see that so much of what I have wanted to become is already there. I just needed to made aware of it.

Anna Nicole and I chatted a bit, about the Soup Kitchen, about T&T, about the Episcopal Church USA, the GI Bill, and the Rare Breed Programs in the Department of Agriculture – it was quite the conversation – and I began to see the pieces of my life come together, even the ones that appear more secular than others, and realized they they all fall under the “Love God, Love One Another” heading.

A lamp was lifted, but someone who would very likely be one of the people with whom Jesus would hang out with if He were walking among us as He did back then.

With all the news about teen pregnancy and special children in the news, perhaps this would be a great time to look at the Scripture and see what we are called to do.

Regardless of where our politics lie, and regardless of where the White House goes, its worth it for all of us to see what Christ has called us to do when situations arise. The issues surround less than ideal family situations have been thrown front row center, how we as a nation, and perhaps more importantly as Christians, respond, react, and act for the least among us is more important than a litany of platitudes.