WARNING...I am on my soapbox...
What is wrong with some parents?!?!?!?!?
As you will remember, one way I am trying to maintain a balance to my life is by getting back into basketball officiating. I was a Men's College Division One basketball official before I answered a Divine Calling of military chaplaincy. I have truly missed officiating the greatest sport on the planet.
I recently did a 6th grade game (it doesn't matter where) and a few parents were embarrassingly pathetic in the asinine ways (I warned you about being on my soapbox) they thought they could be better officials from the stands.
"Traveling!" "Call it the same at both ends, ref!" "He's fouling him every time."
I would love to know what these parents think they are really accomplishing. I can't speak for all referees, but the more I hear crap like that this, the more (or less depending on the alignment of the yelling parent) I want to call what they are crying about.
Let me just say this...the basketball court is a classroom. Parents--you are teaching your children valuable lessons in that classroom. Please think twice about how you trash my authority as a referee, because if you keep it up, someday very soon your child will loose all respect for your authority.
And that my friends is a very certain thing indeed!
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Back to Prison
I attended another worship service in a different section of the Federal Prison in Terre Haute last night. As you might remember, there are three separate prisons at the one location. I have already written about my visit to the lowest security facility. Last night's visit was to the maximum security unit.
I arrived 30 minutes early so that I could be processed through the TSA scanner and metal detector (complete with taking off my shoes, belt and coat). I then received a stamp on the back of my hand. The guard told me that this was more important than my picture badge I was wearing. Without this stamp, I would be considered a prisoner and would not be allowed to leave. (There is a joke in here someplace that would probably be best coming from my wife on those days I am a less than ideal husband!).
The service was led by two Biker Chaplains. According to the stories they told, they have been just about everywhere and seen it all as well! We were always in the presence of prison staff Chaplain, but he has his own services he leads, so he didn't participate in this service.
We waited for the next "movement" of inmates before we could begin. As you can imagine, everything is very tightly controlled and inmates only move in groups when they are told too. It became clear after we waited 30 minutes, that I was on their time, not mine...which is fine. I am doing this because I believe these inmates are worth my time and effort.
The inmates I visited with before and the after the service seemed to genuinely appreciate us being there. There was a wide range of ages. One younger gentlemen was proud to show me a picture of his wife and 3 teenage children.
It is a sacred thing to ruminate about the freedom we have in Christ while being inside a prison. I found myself thinking about all the times I "imprison" myself, such as:
I arrived 30 minutes early so that I could be processed through the TSA scanner and metal detector (complete with taking off my shoes, belt and coat). I then received a stamp on the back of my hand. The guard told me that this was more important than my picture badge I was wearing. Without this stamp, I would be considered a prisoner and would not be allowed to leave. (There is a joke in here someplace that would probably be best coming from my wife on those days I am a less than ideal husband!).
The service was led by two Biker Chaplains. According to the stories they told, they have been just about everywhere and seen it all as well! We were always in the presence of prison staff Chaplain, but he has his own services he leads, so he didn't participate in this service.
We waited for the next "movement" of inmates before we could begin. As you can imagine, everything is very tightly controlled and inmates only move in groups when they are told too. It became clear after we waited 30 minutes, that I was on their time, not mine...which is fine. I am doing this because I believe these inmates are worth my time and effort.
The inmates I visited with before and the after the service seemed to genuinely appreciate us being there. There was a wide range of ages. One younger gentlemen was proud to show me a picture of his wife and 3 teenage children.
It is a sacred thing to ruminate about the freedom we have in Christ while being inside a prison. I found myself thinking about all the times I "imprison" myself, such as:
- Negative thinking
- Worrying about the future
- Losing sight of my identity in Christ
- Thinking that my life is really about me
- Not eating right
- Not getting enough exercise
What about you? Where are your prisons?
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Theology for the 21st Century
As you may or may not know, our UMC Social Principles have been revised and will be up for adoption by the General Conference this May. While I don't personally believe everything in it, I love the good changes and especially the way it starts:
We affirm that all creation belongs to God and is a manifestation of God’s goodness and providential care. Human beings, nonhuman animals, plants, and other sentient and non sentient beings participate in the community of creation, and their flourishing depends on the care of all God’s creation. (emphasis added)
Artificial Intelligence is here. Interacting with non sentient beings is not a thing of science fiction, it is a thing for 2020. I am very pleased that the UMC is adding this now in our updated Social Principles.
I am predicting that we will, in the very near future, be discussing such things as:
https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/124
We affirm that all creation belongs to God and is a manifestation of God’s goodness and providential care. Human beings, nonhuman animals, plants, and other sentient and non sentient beings participate in the community of creation, and their flourishing depends on the care of all God’s creation. (emphasis added)
Artificial Intelligence is here. Interacting with non sentient beings is not a thing of science fiction, it is a thing for 2020. I am very pleased that the UMC is adding this now in our updated Social Principles.
I am predicting that we will, in the very near future, be discussing such things as:
- AI companion robots that accompany congregants to worship (do we count them at worship attendees?)
- Being promoted by AI when a congregant needs spiritual care provided for them in the home or nursing facility/hospital
- Using driver-less cars to bring congregants to/from church
- Leveraging AI to tailor religious education for the individual congregant/family setting (taking into account various learning styles and abilities)
- Allowing AI to manage church finances to maximize impact of resources
- Tailoring AI to instruct congregants to be better stewards of their resources (i.e. plugging them into volunteer services opportunities, assisting in giving 10% of income to the Kingdom building of the church, making Christ-centered ethical decisions, etc.)
- AI in the pulpit...allowing congregational feedback in real time to help direct preaching
What an interesting time to be the church!
For the whole document in English, click here:
https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/124
Vice Boss and Emails
In the USAF, the Wing Chaplain reports directly to and is supervised by the Vice Wing Commander. I have an outstanding boss. Very smart about lots of thing and really cares about people. He does have one flaw however...he is a huge Ohio State fan. I will overlook that for now.
One thing he says constantly is how much he hates e-mail. This took some getting use too. I thought I loved email...efficient, direct and a receipt of what was communicated.
After his encouragement to do less emailing and more face to face talking, I have come to realize what I was missing. There is such power in face to face conversations. Here are some things I have learned in emailing less and talking face to face more:
One thing he says constantly is how much he hates e-mail. This took some getting use too. I thought I loved email...efficient, direct and a receipt of what was communicated.
After his encouragement to do less emailing and more face to face talking, I have come to realize what I was missing. There is such power in face to face conversations. Here are some things I have learned in emailing less and talking face to face more:
- I learn way more about the person and/or situation
- I get immediate feedback on how the message is received by seeing non-verbal communication clues
- I am funnier! It is true...I love to laugh, but I rarely try to be funny in emails because I don't know how it will be taken...face to face I can joke more and I am hilarious! Just ask me.
- I get things done faster (harder for someone to say "no" to my face)
- I get more exercise by walking all over the base meeting people
- I get more credibility by taking the time to visit someone on their "turf"
Emails still have their place, but when in doubt I am doing all I can to have as many face to face conversations.
"The Word become an email and dwelt among us" said no Gospel ever!
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Belching Windbag
I heard and excellent sermon today by Marti (you should check it out on their Facebook page) about the importance of making friends with silence. We live in a noise addicted world, as you know. Being silent with each other is a great gift.
The basis of the sermon was Job's three "friends" and how they didn't do silence well. One of them (according to the Message) tells Job he is a "belching windbag." My Grandmother would say that is the pot calling the kettle black!
This sermon has inspired me to declare publicly that I promise never to be a belching windbag. I know, I know...some of you have heard me preach and wonder how I can help NOT be a belching windbag!!
What would it be like if we all made the decision to not be a belching windbag??? What a wonderful world that would be.
Just so no to: talking with a closed mind; talking more than we listen; condescending conversations; blind allegiance to windbag politicians; blind allegiance to windbag religious leaders; always having to be right; always having something to say; confusing facts with opinions; sacrificing the Truth on the altar of consumerism...
I will stop there since I seem to be getting a little windy!
Who will join me?
The basis of the sermon was Job's three "friends" and how they didn't do silence well. One of them (according to the Message) tells Job he is a "belching windbag." My Grandmother would say that is the pot calling the kettle black!
This sermon has inspired me to declare publicly that I promise never to be a belching windbag. I know, I know...some of you have heard me preach and wonder how I can help NOT be a belching windbag!!
What would it be like if we all made the decision to not be a belching windbag??? What a wonderful world that would be.
Just so no to: talking with a closed mind; talking more than we listen; condescending conversations; blind allegiance to windbag politicians; blind allegiance to windbag religious leaders; always having to be right; always having something to say; confusing facts with opinions; sacrificing the Truth on the altar of consumerism...
I will stop there since I seem to be getting a little windy!
Who will join me?
Home Team
One of my standard questions I ask when meeting new Airmen is, "who do you have at home supporting you?" Most Airmen live in the area and have friends and family close by. There are those (like me!) that have moved to Terre Haute by themselves for this deployment year. I try to especially to keep tabs on those folks.
This has got me feeling incredibility grateful for my home team. Marti, Josh and Nathan give me inspiration and encouragement that allows me to get re-energized for the journey ahead. I am blest to have a loving family that is here for each other.
Of course my home team is bigger than just those 3. I am grateful for friends and church congregants that check in on me.
This deployment involves much that I can't talk about, but is sure is good to talk about the other 99% of my life with those that are close.
Thank you home team!
This has got me feeling incredibility grateful for my home team. Marti, Josh and Nathan give me inspiration and encouragement that allows me to get re-energized for the journey ahead. I am blest to have a loving family that is here for each other.
Of course my home team is bigger than just those 3. I am grateful for friends and church congregants that check in on me.
This deployment involves much that I can't talk about, but is sure is good to talk about the other 99% of my life with those that are close.
Thank you home team!
Celled Phone
As I have mentioned, I spend much of my day in a Top Secret area known as a SCIF. There are no window and no cell phones.
At first I had some apprehension of being away from my cell phone that much. But now I love it! It is amazing how present I have become in the moment when I am literally not thinking about my phone in my pocket. What a liberating thing it is to be detached from those things that sap our ability to be fully present!
Maybe it is just me, but I have had some amazing conversations in the SCIF and I think a big part of that is that we know we are not going anywhere and we don't have the fear of a cell phone interrupting us.
I have come a long ways in making friends with the SCIF...it is a gift.
What distractions can you leave in order to make you more present?
At first I had some apprehension of being away from my cell phone that much. But now I love it! It is amazing how present I have become in the moment when I am literally not thinking about my phone in my pocket. What a liberating thing it is to be detached from those things that sap our ability to be fully present!
Maybe it is just me, but I have had some amazing conversations in the SCIF and I think a big part of that is that we know we are not going anywhere and we don't have the fear of a cell phone interrupting us.
I have come a long ways in making friends with the SCIF...it is a gift.
What distractions can you leave in order to make you more present?
Friday, January 10, 2020
Homefront
I have been reminded recently that the Global War on Terror is waged wherever terrorism exists AND from wherever. One of those "wherever" places is the 181st, of course. I continue to be amazed at the "heavy lifting" we are doing in a corn field in IN for the Global War of Terror.
It is right and fitting that those in the direct path of harm should get our loudest praise and deepest admiration. But...(I know I am bias)...let us never forget that there are those right here at home fighting on our behalf. The Intelligence Group at the 181st is filled with hard working, smart and dedicated Air National Guard members...many of them in the 20s!!
I am honored to serve them for such a time as this. My world has been expanded greatly by serving within the Intelligence community. Let us never forget the seen AND unseen ways we are fighting terrorism.
It is right and fitting that those in the direct path of harm should get our loudest praise and deepest admiration. But...(I know I am bias)...let us never forget that there are those right here at home fighting on our behalf. The Intelligence Group at the 181st is filled with hard working, smart and dedicated Air National Guard members...many of them in the 20s!!
I am honored to serve them for such a time as this. My world has been expanded greatly by serving within the Intelligence community. Let us never forget the seen AND unseen ways we are fighting terrorism.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Exercising my Calling
I would say that I have spent at least 90% of my life's Sundays in worship in a local Church someplace in the world. My parents were insistent that us kids where in worship every Sunday (it helped that we lived next door to our UMC!).
As I was exercising this AM (Sunday Jan. 5) at the 181st, it struck me that I would not be in a local Church today to worship. I have mixed feelings about this. I miss the connections that are shared in worship and because of worship.
But then I realized that I am right here because of my Divine Calling to be a military Chaplain.
God calls us to some very unlikely places (the 25 year old Kent would NEVER had dreamed that the 51 year old Kent would be in the Air Force!), so it is with great pride and honor that I proclaim that I didn't go to Church today but I was the Church (as best as I could) responsible for the Gospel message right here at the 181st for military members that are serving our great country and couldn't go to Church as well.
As I was exercising this AM (Sunday Jan. 5) at the 181st, it struck me that I would not be in a local Church today to worship. I have mixed feelings about this. I miss the connections that are shared in worship and because of worship.
But then I realized that I am right here because of my Divine Calling to be a military Chaplain.
God calls us to some very unlikely places (the 25 year old Kent would NEVER had dreamed that the 51 year old Kent would be in the Air Force!), so it is with great pride and honor that I proclaim that I didn't go to Church today but I was the Church (as best as I could) responsible for the Gospel message right here at the 181st for military members that are serving our great country and couldn't go to Church as well.
12th Day of Christmas
I had the privilege of leading a short time of worship/devotion today at the 181st. We talked about the nature of "light." Some things we thought about when we thought of light were:
- Warmth
- Direction
- Glow
- Transforming darkness
We then read together the Matthew 2 version of the Magi's visit to the Light of the World.
The closing of our time together was spent in silent prayer mediating of how we need to let the Light of Jesus Christ so transform us that we are sent home a different way...a better way, living THE Way of Christ.
What parts of your life need transforming?
What are you going to do about it?
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