Rev. Zach

So, I will confess occasionally watching America's Got Talent . Generally they offer performance art pieces. Some come in the form of song, dance, or maybe even something with knifes, fire, or a bicycle. The episode I happened to catch was taped in Portland, Oregon, a place where people enjoy the identity of being, well, Oregonians. Generally this show is an opportunity to explore the fine line between self expression and self exploitation. One of the things that makes such a show so attractive, I think, is that it also allows us to stand in judgment, to boo people off stage, and to feel good about ourselves because we may not be the smartest, most beautiful, or the most talented, but at least we aren't trying to play a cello as though it were an electric guitar. It's kind of like a modern day Colosseum, where we get to be both the jeering crowd and the lions at the same time. I think that's why all of these reality contestant shows are so popular. There is yet,...

So, here I sit, poolside @ the Y. My daughter's class is lined up on the side with feet in the pool. Each in turn are going to one end to swim the length of a lane. Their teacher is in the water with them. A lifeguard with a clipboard has silently joined to evaluate, and another is on the stand and ready to save. The class cheers one another on, or at least they did for the first three. Miraculously they began again when the weakest swimmer began.  My heart feels the pang of guilt when another parent cheers with me for my child (I was blogging during his). I can't help but reflect on how this is like the church.  Three lifeguards may seem like overkill, but is that not what we have received through Christ?  I like he idea that God is in it with us, evaluating our progress, and ready to save. We always need a God who is ready to save. Why else would confession be part of our regular spiritual walk? Then there's the church, called together and given purpose by God. W...