?

I don't have any answers.

schism

A few years ago we became members of the Methodist church. This wasn't a huge stretch for us since the denomination I grew up in was a part of the Wesleyan tribe. I have a family heritage in the Methodist Church that stretches back to at least the 19th century.

So today I'm sad about the realities of the Special General Conference of the United Methodist Church in St. Louis.

It seems that no matter what happens today, a great and historic denomination will experience schism. It doesn't seem possible that the UMC will be able to remain intact. I don't think anyone really knows the form the schism will take. I assume it will be chaotic and messy. Pensions, property and jobs will be effected. Feelings will be shattered. This will be a traumatic break for thousands of people.

Many will leave no matter what is decided in committees and plenary sessions. Individual congregations will have to make difficult choices. Individuals in congregations will have challenging decisions to weigh.

We should never place our faith in human institutions. Human institutions will always disappoint one way or the other. And sometimes, many times, our loyalty to institutions blind us to the original mission of the institution.

And yet, I grieve the fracturing of the United Methodist Church.

I have no idea what the future of Methodism looks like.

John Wesley was always wary of denominationalism. He never officially broke away from the Anglican Church. He thought of Methodism not as an institution but as a movement.

The United Methodist Church as a denomination has been facing an institutional reckoning for decades. I have great hope that the movement will continue regardless of the arguments within the bureaucratic structures of humans.

I know all of this on an intellectual level. But I still find myself saddened by this.

But no matter what, I will do my best to love my neighbor as Christ loved me. 

From the Future

I sometimes wonder what advice I would give my younger self if I were to travel back in time. If I encountered my junior high, high school or college self...what advice would I give myself from the future?

Probably things like:

Don't worry so much.

Relax and enjoy life every once in awhile.

Do your best and things will usually work out.

Do everything with excellence.

Be yourself and be true to yourself.

Don't worry about what others think about you.

Explore and broaden your horizons.

Don't be scared, timid or fearful.

Is that what my future self would tell me right now?

Yee-haw

Western Day at the High School. Faculty can wear jeans if we are geared up in cowboy gear. The school is trying to show support for the FFA. So I'm sporting one of my wife's grandfather's old cowboy shirts. I love this shirt. Pearl snaps and all.

Gray

Gray and rainy this morning as school gets back into session this week. Ballads by John Coltrane is a nice listen on these days. Helps put you into the calm eye of the hurricane that swirls all around you.

Morning Music

President's Day. No students but it is a work day here at the school.

Listening to 1967's Straight No Chaser Album by The Thelonious Monk Quartet.

Losers

Donald Trump, Jr. on teachers (at a speech last week in El Paso, Texas)....

“You know what I love? I love seeing some young conservatives because I know it’s not easy. Keep up that fight. Bring it to your schools. You don’t have to be indoctrinated by these loser teachers that are trying to sell you on socialism from birth. You don’t have to do it. Because you can think for yourselves. They can’t.”

I am proud to be a loser teacher.  

Not an Emergency

Some questions...

Why wasn't a wall built the two years the G.O.P. controlled both houses of Congress? They had the votes.

Why wasn't a wall built with an executive order the two years the G.O.P. controlled both houses of Congress?

If it was such an emergency, why wait two years? Why risk the other party taking the House of Representatives?

If it is truly a national emergency then why wait to declare one until now? Why not two months ago when the infamous Oval Office meeting with Chuck and Nancy didn't go well?

Why not declare a national emergency during the government shutdown?

Why?

Because it's not an emergency.

And 45 never really wanted a wall. It was all talk and histrionics to rile up the base.

Now when the "National Emergency" declaration gets shut down in the courts he can say to his base that he fought for it and the Democrats stood in the way. He can blame the other party despite the fact that he had full control of the legislature for two years. He can blame the other party despite the fact that most of the federal judges who will declare his "National Emergency" are Republican appointees.

And is that road you want to go down? Violating the constitution to get around another branch of government?

Will the G.O.P. be okay when the next Democratic president declares climate change, or gun control or abortion rights a "National Emergency?"

Oh, and I thought Mexico was going to pay for it.

Ha.

Pitchers and Catchers Report

Today is my wife's birthday (Happy Birthday Honey!).

It is also the day Kansas City Royal's pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Royals had quite the fall last year. After losing many of the stars from the glorious 2014-2015 campaigns, KC plummeted to 104 losses for the season. Many prognosticators expected a drop off, but that was like walking into an empty elevator shaft.

The good news is that many of the older guys were shelved and the young guys got to play. They even had a decent last two months of the season. Some guys, like Mondesi, look like real stars.

So what's going to happen this year? The experts predict futility for this season and next. But optimists see some reason for hope.

The Royals are going back to emphasizing speed and defense. No other outfield will be faster. The infield will be young and rangy.

Getting guys on base will be a problem. Starting pitching might be okay. The bullpen last year was horrendous. They've added some guys to try to plug the leaky pen.

That was the recipe for 2014-2015. Dominating bullpen, great defense and speed on the base paths. If they can pull that off then they might have a shot at the division. Hope springs eternal during spring training.

Dance

A few months back my daughter and I went to a Daddy-Daughter Dance. It was my first Daddy-Daughter Dance so we did it right. Chick-Fil-a for dinner (her choice), the dance at the school, and then dessert at Dairy Queen.

Family of Four

 

So, yesterday we went to court and made the adoption final. We have a "forever" daughter and a family of four. Yesterday was a great day. 

Way Too Early Predictions

Caveat: My political predictions are usually way off. I never imagined Trump and Cruz would be the last ones standing in the GOP field in 2016. And it's really early. There are Democrats yet to commit to running.

But anyway, here are my "way to early" predictions...

Kamala Harris and Cory Booker will be the last two standing in the crowded Democratic field. They may even end up running on a ticket together. Not sure who would run as VP or President. But I think they both have the organizational framework and experience to win.

Beto, whether he runs or not, has lost the momentum of his Texas Senate race. He also has limited political experience. I don't doubt that we'll hear from him again. But I think it may be too soon for Beto.

Biden (if he runs): Too old, too white and too gaffe prone to win the Democratic primary. Dems will look to the future, not the past.

Elizabeth Warren: the Native American DNA stuff keeps hanging around. Gives her trust issues. She has great political chops, expertise and a good back story. But she's not very charismatic. Likability is unfortunately an important thing in American politics.

Tulsi Gabbard: Interesting story but too many weird things pop up on her resume...meeting with Syria's dictator Assad, etc. Not well known and not a lot of political experience.

Julian Castro: Not enough political experience and too little known. Not even that well known in Texas, his home state.

Sherrod Brown:  Not even sure he'll run. If he does...not well known at this point. Probably too moderate to win the primaries.

I'm probably wrong on all this! There may be someone who jumps into the race I haven't even considered. Maybe Bernie will make one last run (doubt it). So, take it for what its worth.

By the way, I would be shocked if anyone in the GOP makes a primary challenge to Trump. 

Live and Not Live

In the fall we often listen to Live From Here live as they broadcast the show over the airwaves. We sometimes even catch the live stream on YouTube so we can actually watch the show.

But once spring hits, Saturday nights by the radio are hard to come by. Fortunately you can stream past shows online. So that's what we did today on the commute. Nice way to start the day.

Haunting and Relaxing at the Same Time

On the commute this morning my daughter said this music was creepy (I think she meant haunting). My wife said it was relaxing. It is relaxing and that was the reason why I chose to listen to it on the way to work on a Monday morning. Sufjan Steven's Seven Swans.

It's Not a Movement without Sacrifice

I saw a social media post the other day that said "wouldn't it be nice if the government paid for adoptions like they pay for abortions?"

I had to shake my head in disgust at the ignorance.

The government pays a lot more to foster-to-adopt initiatives that it does for abortion. It's not even close.

We had no idea how much the government would pay us when we jumped in to foster a child. We did not get into it for the money. But we got paid over $1500 a month from the government to foster one child. Once our foster child is adopted we will still get over $500 a month until she turns 18. She will have free insurance through Medicare. And, the government will pay for her college (including room and board) all the way to a PhD.

Those are pretty big financial incentives the government is providing to foster and/or adopt. A lot more of the government's (your) money goes to foster/adoption initiatives than to abortion. Millions of dollars more.

Once again, the ignorance of many in the pro-life movement is unbelievable. So why don't more families go for it?

Because it's hard. It requires sacrifice. Supporting a movement is easy if it doesn't require sacrifice.