The Obama military strategy — Backward Ho! Â Kurds told to move. Â Crazy?
The Obama Administration told Kurdish forces in Syria to move back from their positions.
This was right  after the Kurds  seized control of the ISIS-held Syrian town of Manbij.
Kurdish female fighters right  after they  seize ISIS held  Manbji
“We’ve made it absolutely clear [to the Kurdish forces that] they must move back across the river,†Vice President Joe Biden said during a visit to Turkey on Wednesday.
The Kurds, “They cannot — will not — under any circumstance get American support if they do not keep that commitment.â€
pick a fight
Biden’s stance is widely seen as an attempt to pacify Erdogan’s Turkey, alarmed by recent Kurdish gains against ISIS in Syria. Erdogan’s
Turkey, after maintaining long tacit alliance with the Islamic State, has recently dispatched military troops into Syria.  Turkey is not in Syria  to fight ISIS but to hold the line against Kurds.
In contrast, Kurds of Syria and Iraq have proven themselves as the most reliable fighting force in war against the Islamic State.
TakeAway:  And you drove miles  to a church to hear this  preached? Â
Yikes! And that  church spends  money to  put this on  a website? Â
What to do to improve? Â
 Issue:  A man leaves his wife for another woman after having cared for his wife for  the last several years.  His wife has  Alzheimer’s. Â
A man leaves his wife who has Alzheimer’s
 What do you say about this?  Has the man betrayed his vows?  Or is he meeting his needs? Â
 Based on 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25,  the sermon at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Aptos  August 21, 2016  is  about the Greek  world view versus the Hebrew world view. And how these two world  views — Greek and Hebrew – collide today, both  personally and politically.
 The Greek  world  view:  The Rev.  Anne Mcanelly quotes from a book by Elizabeth Gilbert titled Committed: A Love Story p. 250 (on Amazon for $16.09 or Kindle for $11.99)
that  “the Greeks gave us all our notions about democracy, equality, personal liberty, individualism ….  and what we might call multiculturalism…”
The Hebrew world view: Â “And then there is the world view of the Hebrews … including the ancient world view that is all about tribalism, faith, obedience and respect. Â This way of thinking is clannish, Â patriarchal, authoritarian, moralistic, ritualistic and suspicious of outsiders…. Â The collective is always more important than the individual, morality is more important than happiness and vows are inviolable” Â (pg. 251 Unbreakable)
The preacher then asks, Which are you — are you finding yourself more in the Greek camp,
Which are you? Â More in the Greek god camp …
or  are you more attuned to the Hebrew way of thinking?
or  more in the Hebrew God camp?
To cover all bases she says, “Of course there is no right or wrong preference and when we understand how we see the world and maybe how our close  relatives do as well, we might discover some insight how to get along better….”
The Rev. Â goes on to say, “A friend of mine told me about a family crises. Â Her father-in-law is leaving his wife for another woman…. Â the twist in the story is that the wife has Alzheimer and the man cared for his wife for severeal years but now has started dating someone else.
My friend felt betrayed… I reminded her that its his very Greek way of thinking he is simply looking out for himself. He is placing personal needs ahead of loyalty and faithfulness and that is not sitting very well with my friend. Â Now most of us would expect the husband to be loyal, but what is at issue is the world view more than moral fiber.”
“This Greek/ Hebrew dichotomy can also played  out in the political realm, where  some see every decision only in the way it would affect them — a very Greek way of thinking.  While others see a more holistic , community and ask what might be be better for all concerned, thereby favoring the Hebrew way….”
_________________________________________
Aptos Psychologist:  Many sermons — including this one — just don’t ‘work’.   As many sermons do, this sermon sets up a false  this or that dichotomy (Greek versus Hebrew world view ).  In reality, many people  in the pews know that they are both …  and more.  Ho, hum. Snooze time……
Maybe what some  Christian churches — for sure this one —  needs is a FeedBack form for pew sitters.  Let people comment right then and there as to what they heard and how helpful/ useful it is.
As  part of the church bulletin on the back page put:  Comments?  On a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 = Low and 5 = High  And 3 = ???   What did I TakeAway from this sermon that I will/ can use? Encourage people to tear off the Comments? and put them in the basket along with their money.
As for Aptos Psychologist, Â for this sermon I would rate it a 3 Â — ???? Â Not horrible. But not useful.
Gilbert’s description of the Hebrew God as “clannish, suspicious, patriarchal…”  (quoted in the sermon)  seems similar to that as portrayed in  A God Who Hates: The Courageous Woman who Inflamed  the Muslim World Speaks Out …  by  Wafa Sultan  That book IS worth reading.
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Aptos, CA  www.aptospresbytermianchurch.org lists a contact number 831 688-4211 and an email  to reach the Office.
Located at 9850 Monroe Avenue, Aptos, CA 95003
Sundays: Â 9:00 AM for adult education and 10:30 for worship.
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.â€
20Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Just hours before four bombs ripped apart two transportation systems in Europe, Emory college  students were dealing with their own supposed terror situation.
Trump written  on steps of Emory College
Sometime on Sunday night, someone had the audacity to scribble “Trump 2016,†“Vote Trump,†and “Trump!!!†with a writing utensil preferred by toddlers. The erasable chalk  was all over the campus.
C chalk signs for Trump
The campus publication, The Emory Wheel, actually took this “chalk situation†seriously.  The college newspaper actually  sided with the crybaby college students who demanded to know how someone could rape their “safe space†with a candidate’s last name.
Rather than writing over the words, or simply wiping away the words,  40 students banded together to protest this sidewalk “terrorism†inside the administration building.
women college students not feel safe
…“I’m supposed to feel comfortable and safe here,†one female student said. “But this man is being supported by students on our campus and our administration shows that they, by their silence, they support it as well …
I’m drowning …drowning … drowning in Obama’s 16 page memo
New Orleans latest flood headline”I am drowning – in memos”
drowning in memos by Obama
Obama  had to be shamed into visiting flooded areas of the state.  That shaming  hasn’t stopped the president from lecturing Louisiana officials about not discriminating when handing out disaster relief.
In a 16-page guidance issued Tuesday, the Obama administration, led by the Justice Department, warned Louisiana recipients of federal disaster assistance.  Justice warned Louisiana against  “unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency).â€
The guidance’s frameworks “highlight the importance of complying with nondiscrimination requirements of civil rights statutes, addressing the needs of the whole community, and ensuring equal opportunity to access recovery efforts.â€
People can’t get potable water or food or medicine in Louisianna.  But by the gods, officials in Louisiana  will have to comply with a 16-page “Guidance”.  If they do not comply, officials  face the wrath of Obama.
The  Obama administration guidance cited instances of discrimination in Gulf Coast states after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005,  An instance of supposed discrimination states “numerous media reports [that] showed images of African Americans stranded on roofs in New Orleans.”
The rescuers who are being cited by the memo who failed to get black people off their roofs during Katrina were a tad busy at that time – rescuing people from drowning.
TakeAway:  How to Keep God’s  Sabbath Day Holy (Whole)?
TakeAway:  Really?  One sermon on How to Keep God’s  Sabbath Day Holy (Whole). Yawn.
Years ago people heard the message ‘don’t work on Sunday and go to church.’ That’s how you ‘keep the sabbath’.   Times have changed. That message has morphed …. Are new ideas a better fit for today?
Gospel: Â Luke 13:10 – 17 Â Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath, offering her a new beginning for her life. Â When challenged by a narrow reading of the sabbath command, Jesus responds by expanding “sabbath work” to include setting people free from bondage.
“Now Jesus was teaching … And just them there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. Â She was bent over and quite unable to stand up straight. Â When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”
On the sabbath,  Jesus heals and lifts up a  woman bent over for 18 years.
When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God  But the leader of  the snyagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done;  come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.”
But the Lord answered him and said, Â “You hypocrites! Â Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?
Ok to give donkey water on  the sabbath? Of course!
And ought now this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free  from this bondage on the sabbath day?
TakeAway:  This is what one person  took away —  from  Christ Lutheran Church,
 www.AptosChurch.org
“Remember the sabbath day.  Call the sabbath a delight.  This is the Lord’s day and the Lord will  do for us what the Lord does:  feed us, forgive us, help and heal us.  Rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.”
Here are some ways  to “remember the sabbath…  Here’s some new ideas how to do it today. This is from a sermon delivered in an Aptos, CA church today:
Look for Perspective.
How do you want to spend your time  — versus  how  do you actually spend your time? When first year college kids were asked this question there was a huge dis-connect.  What do you want to do with your time to move toward what goals?
Learn Balance:
Do something  different you’ve never done before. Learn new skills.  Learn balance — so  that you prioritize.
Seek Renewal of your spiritual batteries.
Take time to recharge your spiritual battery. Â Sit and be quiet. Â Then, Â re-charged, Â when you get up and leave, Â things are different. Â Take time to ponder, forgive, heal.
Reach out and Connect:
Connect saying hello, Perhaps play a game  with children and share. Or go to a picnic. Say hello to people you  only slightly know.  Reach out.  Doing things with others gets us out of ourselves.
Comments? Â Thoughts? Â What did you ‘TakeAway’ today this sabbath, August 21, 2016?
 For more happenings at this church, go to  http://www.AptosChurch.org
 Readings for next week include Luke 14:1, 7-14.
So — are the new ideas listed above  how to ‘keep the sabbath  holy’ a better fit for today’s world?  Do they work for you? What do you #TakeAway ?
Maybe just ‘don’t work and do things that slow you down’ says it all. Off to work tomorrow!
 Tax USA college kids who have kids, not the poor in other counties.  Â
Large families good? Ask them!Â
Climate philosopher Travis Rieder curently  tours the USA.
 Rieder  tries to persuade university students not to have kids.
Reider and others promote their  ideas for restricting childbirth.  Via taxes.  They want tax penalties against people who decide to have a child.
tax penalty for having a child in rich USA, Â Reider wants
This is whatTravis Rieder tells college kids: Â Should We Be Having Kids In The Age Of Climate Change?
Standing before several dozen students in a college classroom, Travis Rieder tries to convince them not to have children.
Or at least that college students will not have  too many.
He’s at James Madison University in southwest Virginia to talk about a “small-family ethicâ€.
Rieder questions  the assumptions of a society that sees having children as good, throws parties for expecting parents, and in which parents then pressure their kids to “give them grandchildren.â€
Why question such assumptions? The prospect of climate catastrophe …
Rieder and his Georgetown collaborators have a proposal, and the first thing they stress is that it’s not like China’s abusive one-child policy.
These  Georgetown Big Brother  blither types  aim to persuade people to choose fewer children.
What they offer is  a strategy that boils down to carrots for the poor  and sticks for the rich.
sticks for the rich… carrots for the poor  ….. Â
Ethically, Rieder says poor nations get some slack because they’re still developing.  Â
Large families common in some parts of the world
And, poor nations get slack  …
adolescent families cut slack in poor countries
because he says that  their per capita emissions are a sliver of the developed world’s.
Hillary Clinton is very important. Hilary  can’t be bogged down by pesky things such as boats or waiting.
Hilary boards her jet for 20 mile ride
Presidential candidate Hilary  endlessly tells factory workers in Ohio and Pennsylvania that she’s one of them.
“I’m just like you!” Hillary Clinton said concerning  her struggles as a working mom at a women’s event in attempt to move past her  ‘dead broke’  when she left the White House gaffe.
While making the case for Paid Family Leave, Clinton opened up about the difficulties she faced as a young mother: Â
‘I Â had many more advantages, much more support, and yet I too felt that squeeze,’ she said of her own situation. Â
PUBLISHED: 16:30 EST, 19 September 2014 |
Hillary Clinton sought to empathize with low-income women on Friday at event in Washington by opening up about the difficulties she faced as a young mother more than 30 years ago.
While making the case for Paid Family Leave and an increase in the federal minimum wage, Clinton recounted an instance when her usual babysitter cancelled on her and she had to find a last-minute replacement.
Where Hilary Clinton is now in life:  Hilary  jets  approximately 20 miles from Martha’s Vineyard — where she was last night partying with President Obama — to Nantucket for a fundraiser on Saturday. Â
Your precious money put n the church plate goes  for a website?
goes for  a website? Oh no!
Waste money on a church website? Â Easy to do!
Church websites are so, sooooo boring! Â And so useless! Â
Typically  you’ll see  the same  old  pages at the top:
Staff     Worship     Outreach   Calendar
 Why useless?  Active members never look.  Why?  Active members know what’s going on having been to their church  recently. As for what’s really going on behind the scene — well that’s never put up on the church  website.  You have to be ‘in the know’.
Why boring?  Little is put up on a church website that’s really interesting or entertaining.God forbid!
holding hands in church? My, my!
Have you ever seen photos of who is holding who’s  hands in church?
No. Â Church website typically show photos of persons who made the largest donations.
Gee whiz.  How exciting. There’s another picture of so and so who gave the most money  last year.
What might  be interesting,  entertaining or useful  to find on a church website?  How about ….
Jobs! Â Â Â Gossip & News! Â Â Â Weekly Raffle! Â Â TakeAway!
 Now people  — active and thinking about attending —  might read those pages.  These pages are appropriate and fun. Â
Â
 Jobs! The priest / pastor’s job is to equip the  Christian Saints.  And that means that each and every  Christian Saint has a job or several jobs to do.  What spiritual gifts do  you have as a Saint or becoming Saint? Â
 So yes — Jobs!  That Page could be at the top of  your church website.  Â
Gossip and News!  Why that’s the life blood for  some and it can be quite entertaining to read.  Gossip is rumors and chatty information: A man named Jesus was seen hanging out with women who are not his sisters … Will that pass for gossip? Or, how about this:   there’s rumors that so and so  was seen near Safeway in #Aptosia  helping a wheel chair bound lady …. See picture on Twitter!  Add your  own fun gossip and news!
 Weekly Raffle!  So “old” and “new” check in to see who won what and what’s up there next week. People have to find out via their computer to know if they won. Post what’s freely offered  via  a weekly raffle by posting on SantaCruzCountyFreecycle:
Why not use church parking lots for a barter/ exchange so people can get and give stuff easily and safely?   For example, right now we’re  looking for a free  redwood picnic table for use at #AptosCommunityGarden .  So, there’s a post listed up there.
Â
TakeAway heard by pew sitters
TakeAway!  So what did you “TakeAway” from the weekly sermon/ homily?  Church websites typically are  one-way advertisements. Churches  put out “their message”.
Want to know what those in the pew thought of what someone said from the pulpit? Â Let the pew sitters say what they “Takeaway”. Make the website interactive.
Let people  post “TakeAway”  as to what they heard.  Or thought they heard. Permit conversation right there on the website.  Wonder whether “old” and “new” might check in to see what others thought?  You bet they will check in.
It’s really too bad that most church websites are largely  useless for attracting people to walk in the door ….. or hang outside where the food/ coffee might be! Â
Why are so many church websites so useless? Â Â Take a look at them.
 Is there a Contact Form?   Nope. There could be.  Here’s one example for an Episcopal church:   Â
contact form for one church
Does your  church  website have a contact page or better yet specific contact forms which  say:Â
HELLO! to the person landing on that specific webpage!
For example. Â Say a person goes to the church website and then “hits” on the Sunday School page. Â
A contact form could say — Â Hi! Â Are you interested in the Sunday School as you have children? Â Fill out this form and someone from Sunday School will answer your questions within the next 24 hours ….
Quite a few persons  looking to attend a faith based community has skills already developed and probably has skills which could be developed.
So  yes — have contact forms which  inquire what skills that person already has.  And might like to develop.
For God’s sake, show an interest in that particular, unique person!
unique person
How about a Contact Form that says: Â Hi! Tell us a little about your skills –which you have? Â want to develop?
We  will get back to you how you can use  your skills or grow your skills.
This Christian community has a special job for each person! Â
A recent look at  websites for several  Christian churches located  in Aptos, CA  shows no Contact Forms.  Take a look and see. Â
Want to attract people?  Put  on your church website specific Contact Forms that attract people (“old” and “new”) to  smell the roses, slow down,  focus on what’s important.  And have fun!   Make it easy for new people to let others know about the skills and interests they have.  Make it easy for people  to want to go in that door ….
smell the roses
….  for nourishment needed  to go out  in the world and share God’s love.
Yes, take that  money that goes for  your church website and make sure that  it’s spent better. Â
Have  specific Contact Forms that actually say Hello!  Tell us a little about yourself so  that we can get back to you and answer your  specific questions.  Â
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited Louisiana yesterday. Johnson went  to reassure local officials and citizens in the state that President Obama cares about the victims of the devastating floods.
When asked by reporters during a press conference if President Barack Obama would take time from his vacation to visit the state, Johnson was unable to commit.
“As I said, the president can’t be everywhere, I know he has a very busy schedule this fall and in the coming days,†Johnson said.
He assured the people of Louisiana that Obama was monitoring the disaster from his vacation home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Obama on golf course when reporters asked whether he planned to visit Louisiana
“When you are the chief executive of the entire U.S. government, you can’t be everywhere including places you would like to be,†he said, assuring again that Obama was “on top†of the situation.
Over 40,000 homes are under water with 30,000 people rescued in Louisiana  over the weekend. Nine people have been killed. In a town of 130,000 people over 15,000 are now in rescue shelters.
Obama was out playing golf when reporters asked whether he planned to visit.  Trump when asked  states that  he will visit the area soon.
Firenze Sage: Â This Johnson guy with the odd name (Jeh) is in charge of those idiots who search 90 year old invalids at airports. Maybe he doesn’t know that Obama’s busy schedule puts him on the golf course every day.
