COFFEE BREAK 186

+ updated at 6:34pm ESDT on Thursday, July 8, 2010

+ The GA voted for inclusiveness but the vote was not overwhelming: 53 per cent to 46 per cent. One of the arguments raised against ordaining GLBT folks is that most Christians in the Global South oppose ordaining GLBT folks. But that argument doesn't hold water because many Christians in the Global South are opposed to women being ordained. I doubt that many in the GA would endorse that position. I thank a Presbyterian tweeter for that insight.

Some people opposed to inclusiveness threatened to leave the denomination if they lose.  I find that an unfair tactic in a debate.

We move toward inclusiveness slowly but surely, too slowly for many and too quickly for many.  I hope that this will be the year when the Presbyteries vote for inclusiveness.  We came extremely close last year.

+ I'm currently watching and listening to the important debate on inclusiveness at the 219th General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church (USA) in Minneapolis-St. Paul.  Go to http://ga219.pcusa.org/

+ On The Abundancetrek Travel Blog, I have added a new post on Dresden and updated yesterday's post on Berlin.  At Pbase.com/abundancetrek, the collection of photos from our recent trip is growing.

+ I am re-reading one of my favorite books, New Thought: A Practical American Spirituality by C. Alan Anderson and Deborah G. Whitehouse.  A liitle gem I found is a quote by Sir James Jeans. He remarked that "the universe looked like nothing, so much as a giant thought."  Anderson and Whitehouse then conclude that "If this is a universe of thought, then changing ones' thought changes the universe, at least a smidgen." 

Intrigued by the quote by Sir James Jeans, I found more at http://www.todayinsci.com/J/Jeans_James/JeansJames-Quotations.htm.  Some are quite provocative. 

+ On Saturday evening, we will travel up the hill to the Glimmerglass Opera.  I am not ordinarily a big fan of opera (except rock operas!) but when I hear the name Aaron Copeland, I become a fan.  The opera we will see is The Tender Land.  Wikipedia offers some background and a synopsis.