2016 » SteveDennie.com - Miscellaneous inconsequential musings from Steve Dennie

14 Years for Stealing a Calculator?

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Steve
Posted in Current Issues

A guy in Texas stole a calculator from Walmart, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was supposed to get just 2 years max. But they incorrectly applied a habitual offender law, and nobody caught the mistake. So, 14 years for stealing a calculator. Which helps explain why the US has the world’s highest incarceration rate.

Anyway, the error was eventually recognized, and steps were taken to fix it. But the Texas solicitor general fought it all the way to the Supreme Court, insisting that the 14-year sentence remain in place. He argued that if this guy was released, it might affect the sentences of other inmates. In other words, he was a sacrificial lamb. It’s nice to be needed.

I love the words of Justice Anthony Kennedy to the solicitor general: “Is there some rule that you can’t confess error in your state?”

The matter was referred to a lower court, and eventually, the guy was released after six years–three times the maximum sentence for his heinous crime of stealing a calculator, but eight years less than his original sentence. I guess he should feel forever grateful to the State of Texas.

By the way the solicitor general who argued the case was Ted Cruz. A man of principle and compassion, obviously.

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Reflections on the Last Supper

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Steve
Posted in Religion

This morning I read James Martin’s chapter on the Last Supper in “Jesus: a Pilgrimage.” You would expect a Catholic priest to focus on the Eucharist part (the bread and wine). Instead, Martin focused on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. He mused, “I wonder how different the church would be if we spent as much time thinking about the Washing of the Feet as we do about Transsubstantiation.”

Jesus said he was giving the disciples an example to follow. Martin mentions how Pope Francis has followed that example. He spent his first Holy Thursday (the commemoration of the Last Supper) as Pope not in a grand basilica, as has every other Pope in recent decades, but in a juvenile detention center, where he washed the feet of poor and trouble youth. He spent the next year doing the same in a home for elderly and disabled people, and the following year washing the feet of prison inmates.

I couldn’t help musing, very briefly, on which presidential candidate on either side would be most open to washing the feet of, say, his cabinet members. Or even better, of Senators in the other party. That, of course, would be criticized as unPresidential.

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Thank You for Caring

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Steve
Posted in This or That

Ed Stetzer, a Christian researcher whose straight-talk writing I follow, recently took his daughter on a campus visit to Wheaton College.

Wheaton is amidst a controversy. A woman professor donned a hijab to show solidarity with under-fire Muslims. That part was good. But she pushed the point by saying Christians and Muslims worship the same God. There are actually some theologically technical arguments to be made in her favor. BUT, Wheaton College suspended her. They felt her words went beyond the college’s statement of faith. Which they do.

Stetzer applauded the professor for caring about justice for marginalized people. But, he agreed with Wheaton’s decision to stick by its doctrinal beliefs. For his daughter, he wanted a school that cared deeply not only about justice, but about its beliefs.

During the past 30 years, Huntington University has released a couple of professors, with pressure from the denomination, because they held beliefs which went beyond what the college and the sponsoring denomination believed. There is a place for academic freedom, but an institution doesn’t adapt long-held theological views to fit its employees. So–blessings on them, but HU isn’t the best place for them. That seems to be Wheaton’s approach. This professor will land somewhere more compatible with her views and continue a good career.

Anyway, during the Stetzers’ campus visit, Wheaton students were demonstrating–some in favor of the professor, some in favor of the administration. Stetzer sided with the administration. BUT, he took his daughter over among the demonstrators. He wrote:

“I was not there to join in or oppose—I just wanted my daughter to see passionate students speaking up because they cared. There’s a lot of talk about making a difference, but not a lot of action beyond Facebook posts. So, we literally walked through the protest, listened to their voices, and prayed for and with them….Their willingness to speak up and take action made us more interested in the school, not less.”

I’ve seen my own pastor, in responding to complaints, say, “Thank you for caring.” Doesn’t mean he agrees or will act on their complaints. Just means he appreciates that they cared enough about the church to say something.

We live in a climate that demonizes opposing views. To applaud people who hold a view you disagree with…that is SO refreshing.

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When White Guys with Guns Take Over Federal Property

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Steve
Posted in Current Issues

Some amusing comments being posted on Twitter about Ammon Bundy and his merry band of militia in Oregon.

Every successful revolution starts with the takeover of a closed visitor center with gift shop.
So just to be clear, these are the good guys with guns, right?
So a bunch of white guys are on Native American soil crying about wanting their land back from a tyrannical and oppressive system.
Occupying a backwoods federal building is a brilliant way to speak truth to…4 stoned hikers just looking to pee inside.
Wait, men are playing in a park with actual real guns?
In order to avoid potential bloodshed, authorities urge the militia members to remain white.
White men with guns stealing land? Never heard of such a thing.
So does this mean I’m allowed to grab a gun and “occupy” any federal building I want? God I love being white.

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Are all Evangelicals Caucasian? Sort of, According to Politicians.

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Steve
Posted in Politics

For me, “evangelical” is a theological term. Definitions vary in nuance, but usually involve belief in the authority of the Bible, a rebirth through faith in Christ, and evangelizing the world. Various statements of faith, such as the one from the National Association of Evangelicals, capsulize evangelical beliefs.

But for politicians and pollsters, “evangelical” is a sociological term. I only recently became aware of this (duh!). When pollsters (of either party) say “evangelical,” they mean “white, politically-conservative Christian.” When Republicans talk about courting their “evangelical base,” they are talking about white Christians. And as an NPR article points out, this emphasis on Republican evangelicals can make it seem that all evangelicals are white. Notice: when news reports mention evangelicals, they typically use a clip from a suburban megachurch.

For pollsters, it’s mostly about race, not theology There are millions of black evangelicals and Latino evangelicals. Down the road from Anchor is Zion Tabernacle, a wonderful black church. We’ve held joint services with them several times, and I’ve played keyboard with their worship team. Marvelous folks. In ways, more evangelical than we are.

But Republicans include Anchor, but not Zion Tabernacle, in their “evangelical base.” Nor do they include some of our own United Brethren churches that consist of immigrants from Jamaica, West Africa, Latin America, and Haiti.

I really dislike that politicians divide evangelicals. The people they teach you to disdain as “liberals” may have the exact same theological beliefs that you have. You may sit next to them in church. And you’ll worship God alongside them throughout eternity.

This distinction–theology vs. sociology–is a distinction I just recently became aware of, thanks to a couple articles–an excellent NPR article from mid-December, followed by a shorter piece by Jonathan Merritt (one of my favorite Christian writers) in The Atlantic. I recommend both.

Don’t let the political world tear the unity of the Body of Christ.

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My 30-Year Grudge Against Florida Football

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Steve
Posted in Sports

I was in Phoenix in 1986 when the Miami Hurricanes and Penn State arrived for the Fiesta Bowl, which would decide the national championship. My parents then pastored a United Brethren church in Fountain Hills, next door to the Fiesta Bowl, and I was “home” for Christmas. Both teams were undefeated, but Miami was the overwhelming favorite.

The classy Penn State players arrived wearing suits and ties. Meanwhile, Jimmy Johnson’s Hurricanes swaggered off the plane wearing combat fatigues. It struck me as tasteless, and totally turned me off.

What a joy to watch Penn State win 14-10. Miami got their comeuppance from a team with the most boring uniforms in college football. And 30 years later, I still desire comeuppance.

That 1986 Fiesta Bowl display forever soured me on all Florida college football. I never root for Florida, Florida State, or Miami. I put them all in the same box–arrogant, and in need up a good whupping. Not even Tim Tebow can redeem Floridian football in my mind.

I know it’s irrational, like saying all Muslims are terrorists. But that’s how my mind works. And please, at my advanced age of 59, don’t try to convince me otherwise.

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Yearly Archives: 2016

14 Years for Stealing a Calculator?

Reflections on the Last Supper

Thank You for Caring

When White Guys with Guns Take Over Federal Property

Are all Evangelicals Caucasian? Sort of, According to Politicians.

My 30-Year Grudge Against Florida Football

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