Pouting toward Bethlehem

Since the election, have you noticed on Facebook and elsewhere how many “down the drain” messages people are passing around?

While thinking last night about how much we have in this country to be thankful for, I read an email from Parker S. James, pastor at The University Church in Athens, Ga. James included the conclusion of a sermon he preached last Sunday: He noted that Paul calls upon us to be thankful, and offered a parody of Philippians 4 that points out how we often act. Here’s part of it:

“Always pout, and I will say it again, keep on pouting and fretting about whatever you can find to complain about. If you are suspicious of anyone or anything, don’t let go of it, but nurse your fears personally, because if you’re not anxious about it, maybe no one else will be. Try as much as possible to cultivate an environment of paranoia because nothing gets done without fear.

“Finally, brothers, fix your gaze on the decline of this empire and the corruption of morals in Rome, fear the failures of fiscal policy, and meditate constantly upon all the possibilities of doom. … This will ensure a certain bitterness of spirit and sourness of soul and will effectively prevent you from becoming overly exuberant about anything that is good.”

Happy Thanksgiving!