A person goes into a Sihk Temple on Sunday during prayer time and opens fire on those gathered peacefully to celebrate God. People set fire and burn a mosque for the second time in a month. What is wrong with people and Americans today? Are people so afraid of anything that looks different from white people that the only response we can come up with is to kill and destroy? What is good and Godly in these types of acts? NOTHING! When did America forget that we have prided ourselves on being a land of welcome to all, giving people religious freedom and freedom from persecution? I don't understand, as hard as I try, why someone else going to their place of worship is such a threat to someone else's faith. If they invite you just say no thanks. If you have questions why not ask or go check out a book from the library. But to buy guns and ammunition and kill someone because they are of a different ethnicity and wear certain types of clothing and worship differently then you - I can't understand it. I can only offer up prayers for healing and peace to come over those who feel hurt, pain and grief. I offer prayers for those who committed these acts of hate that they may see the errors of their ways and turn away from them. I offer prayers for our country and the world that we may learn how to live with each other even when we may not understand the person next to us.
As a minister I have the honor of performing rites and ceremonies for people at a variety of stages of life: baptisms, blessings, marriages, funerals, etc. I usually enjoy planning and leading these events. But lately I've had a rash of folks shocked that as a minister, I would have a fee to do some of these services. So lets talk about why I have fees. To start with, if you are a member of my congregation you do get my services as a part of my contract with the congregation as long as they are spelled out in the contract. Generally if you're a member of the congregation I serve, it is expected that I will preform baptisms, blessings, funerals, weddings, etc for you because I want to remind you of God's continuous blessing in your life and especially at important moments in your life. However some folks are shocked that there would be an honorarium suggested for the minister. The reality is that these blessings, weddings, funerals, etc. are extra work in our wee...
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