The UmBlog

Here is one obituary. http://tinyurl.com/6afea In conversations at work and in letters to the editors of a couple papers I look at, I see similar illogical arguments to defend the starvation of a severely disabled adult. 1) Outsiders should shut up because they don’t know what she really wanted. Then why can’t the benefit of the doubt go to life? Especially since her husband finally recalled what she wanted after he won the lawsuit. 2) The court shouldn’t interfere with his custodial rights. That’s fine but he should be put in jail now for murder. That’s not a logical response, but I don’t understand why the court never doubted his motives. 3) People who want Terri to live are such hypocrites because they support the war in Iraq that has killed multiple thousands of highly functioning adults. Does Jesse Jackson support that war? This highlights a person’s inability to recognize a more complicated approach to life. Pacifism is not the only option to the philosophically consistent person...

After reading this post (click the title of this entry to go there) I decided to order the book recommended, Science and Faith: Friends or Foes?, Collins.

If Terry Schiavo was born in this condition our country might have been in a unified uproar if her parents had decided to starve her in her adult years. But she, instead, descended from a functioning bulimic adult to a severely disabled adult. So most of the country judges that the loss of her quality of life disqualifies her protection from intentional starvation by her husband. Christopher Reeve needed a feeding tube but he could speak and think clearly. She can’t, so she gets to die based on her statements not remembered until several years into her handicap. Her family and lawyer claim she can respond and aver to anecdotal evidence, yet by court order they can’t bring in video or audio equipment to document these. Why does the court collude with this murder? Why does this country collude with this murder? Christopher Reeve had hope in stem cell therapy and had much national sympathy. Terry’s husband has no hope for her. But her family does. He stands to profit when she dies. They a...

1 Corinthians 15 19 If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot. 20 But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries. 21 There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. 22 Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ. 23 But we have to wait our turn: Christ is first, then those with him at his Coming, 24 the grand consummation when, after crushing the opposition, he hands over his kingdom to God the Father. 25 He won't let up until the last enemy is down-- 26 and the very last enemy is death! The Message

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV) This is the Good News! This is why this terrible death is celebrated as Good. I don't have today off from work, but these are things worth thinking on today. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) -compassion "Amen I say to thee, this day you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) -hope "Woman, behold your son...Behold your mother." (John 19:26-27) -family "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46) -spiritual suffering "I thirst." (John 19:28) -physical suffering "It is finished." (John 19:30) -victory "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46) -control

I've grown up in the church and still remain committed to staying with this ship of fools until we reach the sunset and the welcome reception of Jesus Christ. I hope to point out the pirates on our journey but also give a hand to my fellow fools who might be accused of piracy.