MORGAN'S MOMENT
Wow I thought to myself
    before reporting it to Jean…
    our town is almost 
    the most stress-free town in America.
So I broke the news to her
     causing her to pause
     presumably to think 
     and control her stress.
“I wish that you showed
    a few more signs of stress!”
I assured her that I wasn’t kidding…
    pollsters had decided
    to place our town 106th of 117
    among low-stress towns.
It’s now clear
    that not everybody was included
    in that now questioned survey
    of our good citizens.
Should I be more stressed?
    Can anyone not be stressed
     in these screwed up times?
     If I’m not stressed why not?
My excuse is that I suffer
     from suppressed stress…
     ignored and buried
     and greatly neglected.
It’s no honor to be stress free
     in a world that suffers
     for lack of people stressed enough
     to raise holy hell.
— Art Morgan 

 
 
BOOK CORNER
Our book club did Pat Conroy’s “Beach Music.” It’s full of powerful sub-plots that includes suicide, true romance, dysfunctional family, death and dying, mental illness, alcoholism, the holocaust, interfaith religion, Vietnam, the daughter Leah, the mother Lucy, and much more.
Amazingly, it is not a depressing book. The various segments are well done, thought stimulating, and sometimes inspiring. A bit long, I thought, but compelling to the end. It actually turns out OK. Would I recommend reading it? Read King David first.
MOMENT MINISTRIES
Jan. 16, 2004
home address:  25921 SW Airport Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97333   541-753-3942
email at  a-morgan@peak.org
MLK, Jr. DAY
A fellow was saying something about the Martin Luther King Day holiday, and then did a little chuckle. I’ve heard that controlled put down before.
Lots of people still don’t like the reality that Americans of African descent have come so far in the past 40 years or so. Younger people can’t comprehend what it was like for these citizens before Martin Luther King.
Whatever anyone thinks about the man or the movement, there is no denying that he was at the forefront of a historic process that changed America forever.
The fact that some feel it necessary to belittle the day is an indication that racism is still with us. It will always be present in our world. The unending task of people of faith and good will is to see that those who would turn back the clock not be allowed to do so. 
 
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
I was meeting with a grieving family when someone asked, “Why did God let this happen?”  Such times are not good for teaching theology, but I did recommend a book. It’s not new, but still available:
“Why Bad Things Happen to Good People,” by Rabbi Harold Kushner. One of the family members went out and bought 8 copies to distribute to the family. I thought it a good idea worth sharing.
   
 NEXT THURSDAY
MOMENT POTLUCK
Thursday, January 22
Libations and Conversation at 6:00
Potluck supper shared at 6:30
Winter lights are on at the Morgan house on Airport Avenue

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THE BIBLE’S OWN SADDAM
       Name the “Saddam” of the Bible.
       Yes, Saddam of today has his counterpart in yesteryear. Because this counterpart is a biblical hero it is rare to hear of anyone speaking this dark truth. The fact is that his name appears more than any other with more pages about his life and exploits than there are of Jesus.
       I read a modern biography of the man after Christmas, written by the book columnist of the Los Angeles Times, Jonathan Hirsch. I warn you that this is not your usual Sunday School Bible story. 
       Hirsch is not only a captivating storyteller, but he does good biblical scholarship. I am sure there might be disputes about some of his conclusions, but his sources are first rate. His work is documented and footnoted for the serious student.
       I say all this to let you know that this is a serious piece of writing. I also promise you that it is interesting reading. At least I found it so. I thought I was reading about someone I had never known much about. 
       And during the reading I found myself saying, “This guy sounds like Saddam Hussein!”
       You have probably figured that we are talking about King David of the Old Testament. The title of the book is “King David, the real life story of the man who ruled Israel.”
       I would seriously recommend that any preacher who intends to venture a sermon involving King David read this book first. At the same time I would say to those who could care less about learning anything from the Bible that this will make an impression on you.
       One thing that makes this of present day worth is the description of the political realities of the Middle East in that time. You will say that things haven’t changed that much in 3000 years. I’m talking about a system of tribes and small kingdoms governed by warlords. These tribes were always vying for power with ruthless battles for supremacy.
       The rise of David was by a trail of treachery and bloodshed. You are left to decide which of the many versions of his achievement of the throne to believe. We may visualize great armies but the true picture is one of bandits and guerilla tactics with many acts of terrorism. David was no nice guy. He would slaughter his own people or own family members if it served his purpose. I mean he slaughtered people by the tens of thousands
       If genocide is not enough to offend lovers of David, what about his womanizing? It was the right and way of chiefs and kings to possess women of choice. And David chose many, resulting in many sons, some of whom sought his throne.
       We tend to think of a united nation of some sort. David gradually assumed leadership of a number of tribes. He was a King of kings. He always had to protect against those who would kill him in a minute if given the chance. King David’s kingdom was somewhat like Afghanistan where the nation is supposedly under control, the leadership is pretty much centered in one place, while warlords still control the rest of the nation. The name of the game is to hold the whole system together to some extent. David was able to do it for a period of time. Just like Saddam. 
       What about God in all of this? David never is chummy with God. He rolls dice to learn God’s will for him. He is sure that God authorized his atrocities for sake of some purpose of David’s. The evidence indicates that the true story of David is adjusted by the spin-doctors several centuries after his time. We find this especially in Ecclesiastes, although similar indications are found in I and II Samuel. Fascinating.
       Kings are given godly qualities. They acquire an aura of divinity. The theology of the situation assumes that if one becomes a king it is because God wants it that way.
       What about the Psalms, presumably written by King David? Modern biblical scholarship does not share the presumption. We have no evidence of David being born again. He is a power-driven despot to the end. 
       I’ve spoiled the story for you? No. I’ve sort of opened the way so that you can enjoy the journey without having your senses shocked. You might come away with a different thought. Mine is that the God depicted in the story of David is worse than Saddam and that David himself is at least equal.
— Art Morgan, Jan. 2004