Preacher Urges Stone-Faced Bush To Ditch Possessions..

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0808-06.htm


(this lightened up my morning..)

Bush Family Listens as a Minister Urges Wealthy Congregation to Ditch Possessions

by Scott Lindlaw

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - A clergyman implored his affluent congregation, including President Bush's family, to jettison their material possessions, gently mocking George H.W. Bush's struggles on the golf course to drive home his point.


The Very Rev. Martin Luther Agnew
(bio)

The Very Rev. Martin Luther Agnew preached Sunday to a packed Episcopal church just down the road from the Bush family's seaside estate. Its oceanfront parking lot was filled with luxury cars made by Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW and Volvo, testament to the wealth of the summer visitors at this southeast Maine resort.

"Gated communities," Agnew said, "tend to keep out God's people." But, he said, "Our material gifts do not have to be a wall."

"They can very well be a door. Jesus says, 'Sell your possessions and give alms,'" Agnew said. "I'm convinced that what we keep owns us, and what we give away sets us free."



..more..

[Citizen Daryl]

1. Don't forget the Parable of the Rich Man ...

The rich man got discouraged and walked away because he couldn't bear to give up his wealth. Which meant he probably continued on to become resentful, amass more wealth, and become an even bigger tyrant.

Wonder how hard you'd have to push to get an elephant through the eye of a needle. ;)

[Bettie]

2. Sadly, the congregation

probably did not listen to the message.

After all, the best place to find a hypocrite is in the front row of a church on Sunday morning. They pay lip service to their version of Christianity but just don't want to back it up with real action because that would be unfaithful to their real god: the almighty dollar.

Still....the story made me smile. Wonder if that minister is still employed today?

[Joy Anne]

5. the minister's employment

The article's link to his biography suggests his parish is in Shreveport and that he does a couple of weeks' vacation fill-in every August in Kennebunkport. No doubt the senior Bushes have been preached to by him quite a few times.

[the Kelly Gang]

3. good man but wasted his breath..they're off to hell

[Joy Anne]

4. Great story

This is why Shrub never goes to church unless his daddy makes him. The average Episcopal, Methodist, UCC, Presbyterian, Lutheran, or Disciples church is apt to have a sermon along these lines rather than something out of Leviticus, as Shrub would prefer.

[yellowcanine]

6. Actually Poppy was pissed because Agnew told a story about him poking fun

at Poppy's golfing skills. Apparently Agnew didn't get the memo that no one makes fun of Poppy's golf game.

The story in a nutshell-

Poppy's ball lands in the rough in an anthill.
First swing takes out a whold bunch of ants.
Second swing takes out even more ants.
One of the remaining ants says, "Guys, if we want to survive we better jump unto the ball."

Agnew then came down into the audience and high fived Poppy, who had no choice but to go along with it or look like the schmuck he is - but he didn't crack a smile through the rest of the sermon. Story is that old Babs was amused, however.