Sd#227

[theironhorse]

Sunday Dispatch #227


new agendas

...and the church had
its annual meeting
there was a good feel in the air
it had been a good year
report after report
seemed to confirm growth
the new building was done
a fund drive for a new organ was about to begin
the Sunday school had its best year
the choir bought new robes
the budget was larger than ever
the Bible conference made a deep impact
in the midst of the progress
a young man arose
from the back of the room
and quietly began to read
a passage of scripture


"I can't stand your religious meetings.

I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.

I want nothing to do with your religion projects,

your pretentious slogans and goals.

I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,

your public relations and image making.

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.

When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want?

I want justice--oceans of it.

I want fairness--rivers of it.

That's what I want. That's all I want."

~Amos 5:31-24 (The Message)


when the young man was finished
he sat down
it was very quiet in the room
as if a car had been shifted into reverse
while it was still going forward
or as though death had invaded the party

the alert minister
asked for a period of silence
for everyone to pray to God

then he asked the young man
to read the passage again


~Harv Oostdyk

[creedsister]

: straight up