"Who told you that you were naked?"

This is a sermon that I gave at the American University Methodist's healing service last week. It's called "Who told you that you were naked?"

One of the awesome AU students filmed it. The healing service is always a bit dark so it's hard to see, but there you have it.

It's interesting watching yourself do something. I think I move around way too much, and I don't like my voice. Also I keep laughing at my own sermon. But that's that. You watch, you learn.

No words for Gaza

I had a nice post planned about a meeting with my psychiatrist and the reduction of one of my meds.

Then the bombs started falling on Gaza.

I feel like I have no words for Gaza. I have used up all of the words. I have said everything I can, and others have said the rest.

I have used all of the words. I have used the words "crushing oppression." I have used the words "blockade and closure," and the word "siege." I have used the word "apartheid." And as Rafeef Ziadah says, "No soundbite can fix this."
 

I have said, "3 billion dollars of military aid to Israel every year." I have said "Motorola makes the communication systems, Hewlett Packard the guidance systems and the checkpoint scanners." I have told the human interest stories that are supposed to make people care more than the statistics do. I have said, "Caterpillar makes the house demolishing bulldozers." I have said my paltry piece, and others have said so much more, and I just feel like we are out of words.

I pray, "Please God, don't make this like 2008." And meanwhile people are dying, 15 Palestinians dead, 4 of them children, 3 Israelis dead.

And I am tired of Matthew 25. Tired of quoting "the least of these." I am tired of saying:

"Jesus is dying in Gaza."