let us pray* for our community, the world, and all those in need.

Indeed they do. From an e-mail to supporters:

Today we saw the first hard attack from a Christian Right voice against Sen. Obama in the form of James Dobson's daily radio address.  Dr. Dobson told millions of his listeners that Sen. Obama is "deliberately distorting" Scripture for his own political gain during his 18 minute broadcast.  Dr. Dobson was referencing Sen. Obama's acclaimed Sojourners/Call to Renewal speech, which many called one of the most important speeches on the intersection of Religion and Politics in a generation.

For too long, statements like Dr. Dobson's have gone unanswered.  That is why we have launched The Matthew 25 Network.

We are a community of religious leaders, theologians, congregants and parishioners who believe that religion should not be used to divide and instill fear, but instead call us to be our brother's and sister's keeper and to serve a purpose higher than ourselves.  You can help us make the case - to the very same voters Dr. Dobson spoke to today - that Sen. Obama's message of hope and service is precisely the kind of message that America needs.

Imagine if an ad ran directly after Dr. Dobson's broadcast today, saying that "ending the War, fighting Poverty and caring for Creation are the Gospel values that have led us to support Senator Obama for President."

You can help make it happen!

This week our first print ads will be seen by over 200,000 Catholics and Evangelicals.  The next step is Christian radio.  Donate to Matthew 25 Network today so we can run ads back-to-back against Dobson.  He promised today there would be more segments along these lines – let's have an answer ready.

For the most part, my take on this is what a buddy said: "Throw in a bobblehead Jesus and I'm sold." Any response is better than none.

That being said, this isn't the response I would have made. It's very much a "me too" approach, as if liberals needed to educate conservatives that we are not in fact a bunch of baby-eating hippie cultists. And as another friend points out, it doesn't actually reorient the values its opposes, just jumps right to the New Values. You have to bring people along sometimes, allow them to see the problem for themselves.

But my basic problem with an ad like this is that it sets up a competition of values. It's almost as if we're going to build a progressive majority around a superior brand of Jesus Juice!

Well, we're not. At best, we'll attract a few people who might like to vote Democratic but just can't because Dems just don't understand abortion or homosexuality or the place of the Bible in American Society or what have you. And then what do you do?

And when it really gets down to it, marketing a values package just doesn't work. The average listener on Dobson's show will hear that ad and say, "That's nice, but what about the 'family values' Dr. Dobson is always talking about?" You have to be able to demonstrate, from within the worldview, that the values people hold don't work. That's why Katrina and Iraq have done such damage to the Republican brand: they've exposed the conservative values of limited government and strong national security to be frauds.

Much better then, IMNSHO, to take things on directly. Personally, I'd like to see an ad that said: "Dr. Dobson thinks it's okay for parents to beat the crap out of their kids with whatever they can reach. Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to little children. Why does James Dobson hate Baby Jesus?" But it probably would be more politically effective to say something like: "Dr. Dobson says Barack Obama 'is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.' But Barack Obama has proposed feeding program x, clothing program y, and peace-making strategy z. Whose values fit your life?"

Actually, if it were up to me, I wouldn't run an ad on a Focus-affiliated station at all. It wouldn't be cost-effective. Much better revenge would be an ad in publications or on radio stations sure to pull in a strong secular audience, lifting up Dobson's comments and Obama's, then stating, "We don't want you to vote based on religious convictions. But ask yourself, who's more in touch with true Christian values: James Dobson or Barack Obama?"

You'd get twice as many votes, and they'd make their own Jesus bobbleheads.

let us pray* for our community, the world, and all those in need.

Here's the prayer of confession we've been using at Salem this summer:

Love one another, for love is of God,
and whoever loves is born of God and knows God.
Spirit of God, search our hearts.
In silence, let us remember our need for God's forgiveness.

Silence

Let us confess our sins to God.
God of mercy,
we have sinned against you and against others.
We have sinned in what we have done,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for our sins,
forgive us all that is past
and raise us to newness of life. Amen.

Silence

Almighty God, who pardons all who truly repent,
forgive your sins, strengthen you by the Holy Spirit,
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

Now, I know, I know. It's awful and Christocentric and penitential. But here's what you don't know: we held worship outdoors this morning, as we sometimes do in the summer. And while we paused in silence, a cardinal sang in the background.

What an assurance of pardon, what a benediction! Newness of life indeed!

Enjoy the summer, stay dry, and be nice to your dad today.

Apologies for being late. We were at an extended-family function in Madison, started back a little late. Besides, the weather's crazy here.

Prayer below the fold.

Maybe I'm just moody or something - it's been a long week. But this seems like just the word of comfort I need at the moment:

in the summer, I usually have my congregations hold a hymn sing before the formal beginning of worship. We pick out three or four songs and do a couple of verses of each. The folks in the pew always seem to enjoy it. It lets them sing the songs that I might overlook or not select ordinarily.

Today was the first Sunday of hymn sings for this summer, so naturally their thoughts turned toward the patriotic songs.

AP, via RawStory:

Doctors say Sen. Edward Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor; a condition discovered after he had seizure.

Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat say tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

The 76-year-old senator has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.

His wife and children have been with him each day but have made no public statements.

His doctors said in a statement released to The Associated Press that he has had no further seizures, is in good spirits and is resting comfortably.

What is there to say? Pray.

US sniper shot at Koran in Iraq  An American sniper has been sent home from Iraq for using a copy of the Koran for target practice at a shooting range near Baghdad, the US military says.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_ea...  A level of offense and stupidity that leaves me snarkless.

Scads of stupidity, and some snark, below....

let us pray* for the creation:

for his health, his recovery, and for his continued leadership.

Pray for the skill, compassion and wisdom of those who care for him, and for the people of Massachusetts.

Pray as well for the elderly of this nation, for John McCain,
Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton,
and for all elected officials, for their health and safety,
that illness not limit them
nor violence take them before their time.

Grant to all of them honor, integrity, basic human decency,
a sense of justice, mercy and an eye to governance
on behalf of the least of these.

Give to us the strength of citizenship,
the virtues of democracy,
and the courage to call our leaders to account
even as we refuse to be divided from them
in the common humanity we share.

On this Mother's Day, let us pray:*