Monthly Archive

Does remembering that our ancestors were all immigrants inform us on the issue? Immigration is a complex issue . . . there are the concerns of national security, American jobs and the principles of compassion and opportunity.  Perhaps the hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on the fence between Mexico and the U.S. (which has huge gaps in places) should be spent in improving and easing the means of access between the two countries, allowing for legal passage or on American job development or health care. 

I know that temptation of any kind is problem for any human being, regardless of their state in life. The powerful, the weak, the brilliant, the average. Today the sad news broke of another megachurch pastor who violated his trust by trysts with young men in his congregation. Of course the news is a hot media story but one thinks of the thousands (25,000 member church and a 10,000 seat auditorium) feel a deep sense of betrayal, anger, grief and shame. Somewhere along the line, Bishop Eddie Long began to transgress boundaries and perhaps there was a sense of entitlement or invulnerability.

Met today with a representative of World Vision. World Vision identifies the most underserved parts of the world and then provides the basics of life sustainance as well as educational development.  ALARM is seeking to partner with World Vision and the Heights Baptist Church (which is a major World Vision partner). The focus is southern Uganda. ALARM offers the  special skills of pastoral leadership and reconciliation training.

Find me on twitter at mwheel01 or Meredith Wheeler

I am saddened by the rhetoric that continues to fly around religious differences. As I have traveled in recent weeks, almost without exception I am asked my perspective of Islam, Muslims, Mosques and the Koran. My answer:

1. The call of the gospel is to love all people. The love of God extends equally to all people. There are not less loved people. There are not any who do not bear the image of God, the imprint of God. Jesus lived, died and resurrected for all people. We love people even if they never ultimately come to share our faith convictions.

My son, Ben, arrived tonight from San Francisco where he lives. Ben, Rebekah, Naomi and I sat around the table for some triple chocolate brownies and Blue Bell, Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream tonight. This was followed by a game of Rummicube. It was really great to have the four of us together in our home, first time in a long while. It was a bit like closing a nomadic chapter of our lives and opening a new one with a sense of place again-of geographic spaciality that is important in life.