The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
August 3, 2008
Vol. 11 no. 30

Everything But...
           Normally I would not draw attention to such things, but this is the weekend exactly 10 years ago that I first led a worship service at Knox-Metropolitan. And just as with Jacob working seven years for the hand of Rachel, it has been like no time at all. Thanks to all for making time fly.
           I was living then with my family in Waskada, Manitoba, and with only one car which Molly needed for her pastoral charge, she put me on the Saskatchewan TC bus in Gainsborough for the long trip into Regina. With four hours on my hands I had to have something in my hands to read.
           For some reason, I still remember that it was a book of sermons - why not? - What Makes You So Strong? by Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Yep, he was the pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in south Chicago for 35 years, retiring earlier this year, and was the pastor of Barak Obama. Ten years ago he was well known as perhaps the best preacher in the United Church in the US, and now he is infamous around the world for the sin of mixing religion and politics in his inimitable and inflammatory manner. I cannot count the number of people in this church and in Regina who have asked me about Obama and his candidacy, and tea time conversation at Princeton was full of the Wright stuff.
           Many are outraged at Wright’s orneriness, but what’s a preacher to do? Oh yes, I believe Wright has gone over the top a few times, but I’ve caught him winking when he does it. Preaching is not just about God stuff, it has to be about how God’s stuff mixes with our stuff, our world and its messed up politics and wars - otherwise, God’s stuff is just playdough. Ten years after, I keep listening for God’s word, even if I have to wince. That must come from Jacob’s limp.