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Date Posted: 11:29:19 12/03/01 Mon
Author: Glen
Subject: Re: Grant's Large Country Porch
In reply to: cezoram 's message, "Grant's Large Country Porch" on 10:55:51 12/03/01 Mon

>
>I have recently found reflections given by Grant
>McMurray, a few days after the attacks on New York and
>Washington. The reflections are called Faith
>Overcoming Fear, and can be found in its entirety at
> rel=nofollow target=_blank >href="http://www.cofchrist.org/seek/faithovercomingfear
>.asp">http://www.cofchrist.org/seek/faithovercomingfear
>.asp
>
>As I read the reflections, I was a bit disturbed. I
>was especially disturbed by the first paragraph.
>Grant began by telling us where he was sitting while
>he was writing these reflections. He said that he was
>"sitting on the large country porch
>at the front of his comfortable home in eastern
>Independence." This may not seem so alarming,
>but why is he using such adjectives to describe his
>porch and his house? It would seem as if he is trying
>to rub it in our faces that he is able to afford such
>luxury. I doubt that the members of the Community of
>Christ in poorer nations are able to possess the
>comfort that Grant is illustrating in his reflections.
> In fact, I don't believe that many of the members of
>that organization who live in the United States or
>other richer nations, would be able to say that they
>are able to be sitting on the large country porch at
>the front of their comfortable homes. I have been
>told that Grant works full-time for the church and
>gets his income from the church. If this is true,
>then his comfortable residence is provided for by the
>members who work a 40 hour week. Yet these members
>may not be able to live in the same luxury as Grant.
>
>Further, Grant paints a picture with his words. He
>loves to paint a picture with words. He speaks about
>the lovely weather and the flowers and shrubs that are
>all around him. Why does he feel there is a need to
>describe all these things? What part do they play in
>his reflections? Nothing that I can see. He does not
>seem to be developing the setting for the rest of his
>reflections. As far as I can see, he is boasting to a
>certain degree about the comfort that he resides in,
>even though it is at the expense of the members of the
>C of C. Yet, from the last sentence in the first
>paragraph, Grant seems to be contrasting his "safe
>place" with the chaos in New York. How nice that
>Grant can live in such a safe place!
>
>Next, Grant uses the word "cul-de-sac". Cul-de-sac?
>Why couldn't he have just used the phrase "dead end
>street"? Why does he need to use such a vocabulary
>when he speaks? It is obvious that Grant is trying to
>impress everyone with his level of education.
>Speaking above people's heads is a way of controlling
>them. Jesus did not speak over the heads of His
>listeners. He spoke simply, so that the common people
>heard Him gladly. Jesus did not try to baffle the
>people with His brilliance. Why does Grant feel that
>he should do that which Jesus would not do?
>
>After this first paragraph, Grant does speak of the
>horrific attacks and the responses to those attacks.
>He said that "his porch no longer
>feels safe." But he did not say that his porch
>no longer feels as comfortable and luxurious as it
>did. Even though Grant seems deeply concerned with
>what happened on September 11th, as well as the events
>that have taken place since that day, he still is
>living in comfort at the expense of the members. This
>is why I have trouble with these reflections. Are
>these reflections really heartfelt? Or are they
>simply the casual comments of a man who has quite a
>deal of power? Priestcraft will only be allowed for
>so long.
>
>Cezoram
>

Hey, Joe!

I don't think that you'll find many people who don't know what a "cul-de-sac" is. It's about as common as "tract-house."

I take it from your statements above that you must live in an "un"-comfortable home, and that you must be gainfully hard-working in order to make your own living. Is that right? I run a store. What do you do?

Also, did the events of September 11 have any impact on your own feelings of safety. Do you think about possible terrorist activity in your own part of the world? I think that that was the point Grant was trying to express.

Love,
Glen

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Replies:

  • Re: Grant's Large Country Porch -- Lois, 11:33:46 12/03/01 Mon
  • Jesus following Grant...with His Large Dictionary in Tow -- Joanne, 13:45:08 12/03/01 Mon
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