Hoosier Pastor

I have moved

2008-10-01T08:35:00.000-05:00

recently I added some older material from an even older blog. I posted this info here.

But I have moved to a new site. Shoot me an e-mail and I will fwd you that new blog site.

pistol packing preacher

2008-10-01T08:34:00.001-05:00

i]OK so maybe you have never watched one of teh Godstuff videos which I link to the Webboard, but I strongly encourage you to watch this one. This takes the cake.[/i]

This week we feature those amazing preachers of the light who can also shoot out your lights if'n ya get crossways with 'em! First off we've got Pastor Benny Hinn and his famous tirade about "blowing your head off with his Holy Ghost machine gun," then brother Bob Tilton demonstrates how to chop up the devil, the clergymen at White Dove Ministries shoot Santa, and last but certainly not least… Arnold Murray of The Shepherd's Chapel in Gravette Arkansas confronts an intruder in his studio by "using a 9MM on that boy!" Really.

[url=http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/godstuff/video.html?format=wm&vid=070]Enjoy in Windows Media[/url]

[url=http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/godstuff/video.html?format=qt&vid=070] Enjoy in Quicktime[/url]

on teaching doctrine

2008-10-01T08:32:00.003-05:00

George Lindbeck, in his important book, The Nature of Doctrine, defines “doctrine” as “communally authoritative teachings regarding beliefs and practices that are considered essential to the identity or welfare of the group in question. They may be formally stated or informally operative, but in any case they indicate what constitutes faithful adherence to a community.”[1] It is a cerebral definition, to be sure, but one that we in the United Methodist Church need to embrace.

Lindbeck makes an important point in stating that doctrine is “communally authoritative teachings.” The second part of this sentence is obvious – doctrines are “teachings regarding beliefs and practices.” Yet we need to understand they are “communally authoritative.” Another important point Lindbeck makes in this definition is that doctrine impacts both identity and practice of a community: “indicating what constitutes faithful adherence to a community.”

In a culture which puts high value on individualism this is a problematic definition of doctrine. We, as individuals and as groups, have a difficult time agreeing upon and accepting this communal responsibility. We have been taught to prize our opinions (despite that fact that everyone has one) and autonomy. We do not respond well to hierarchy or authority. We, as humans, desire control, influence, and power. We don’t want someone else telling us “how it is” and “what is what.” Yet, for doctrine to be as effective as it is essential, submission to a communal understanding is crucial. This is part of the problem in the United Methodist Church, not that we lack good doctrine, but that we embrace individuals who refuse to hold them as communally authoritative.

Now, this question from ¶335 forces me to answer questions about “traditional evangelical doctrines.” However, I refuse to answer by offering up “my opinion.” In the end, “my opinion” doesn’t really matter. What should be more important is whether or not Chris Roberts, as a clergyperson in the United Methodist Church, will uphold the communally authoritative teachings… essential to the identity and welfare of the United Methodist Church and our Wesleyan tradition. It should be the will of the Church at-large that I, as an ordained minister in the UMC, faithfully uphold that which “constitutes faithful adherence to the community.” I will teach and practice in the churches to which I am appointed less my opinions of various doctrines and more what our church holds as formally stated or informally operative doctrine. The good news is that “my opinions and beliefs” match the “doctrines” of the UMC (and if they don’t then I should not be permitted to continue in this ordination process).

[1] George Lindbeck. The Nature of Doctrine: Religion and Theology in a Post-liberal Age. (Philadelphia, Westminster Press, 1984) 74.

random thoughts on violence

2008-10-01T08:32:00.002-05:00

I will begin where I last started: with exegesis as understood by Yoder. As I said prior, it is the general rule of proper textual interpretation that a text should be read for what its author meant to say and what its first readers o hearers would have heard it say.

Therefore, the question of Just War in the OT is not a valid question. Whether taking human life is morally permissible or forbidden under all circumstances was not a culturally conceivable question in the age of Abraham or that of Joshua. It is therefore, illegitimate to read the story of the Joshuanic wars as a document on the issue of the morality of killing. Although the narrative of the conquest of Canaan is full of bloodshed, what the pious reader will have been most struck by in later centuries was the general promise according to which, if Israel would believe and obey, the occupants of the land would be driven out little by little (Ex. 23) by the angel or the terror or the hornets of God, or the most striking victories of Joshua over Jericho (josh 6), or Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites (Judges 7) after most of the volunteers had been sent home and the remaining few armed with torches in order not to let Israel think military strength or numbers had brought the victory: To believe meant, most specifically and concretely in the cultural context of Israel’s birth as a nation, to trust God for their survival as a people. This theme then entered into the theologically oriented re-writing of history which we find most clearly stated in the exilic/post-exhilic books of Chronicles.

It had thus become a part of the standard devotional ritual of Israel to look over the nation’s history as one of miraculous preservation. Sometimes this preservation had included the Israelites’ military activity; at other time no weapons at all were used. In both kinds of case, however, the point was the same: confidence in YHWH is an alternative to the self-determining use of Israel’s own military resources in the defense of their existence as God’s people.

And so to ask the OT to answer our question is ludicrous! It does not know of our modern times. In fact, when the much of the OT was written, during the exile, there is no way the authors could have know of a source of destruction so great as to wipe out all humanity. Israel was unconcerned with these matters of just war of their military. They were only concerned with obeying God’s command. And as already said by Berman, this is no longer the case for the NT church. And therefore, instead of applying our modern questions and understanding to Just War theory, as Tom has done, is completely inappropriate. The only Just War is war that is conducted and commanded by God.

As for the armed disciples. It only makes sense. Again, let’s not put our modern understanding to the text, instead let’s ask what the readers heard. They heard that the disciples lived in a time in which they believe the parousia would happen sooner than later. The apocalyptic battle, as understood for Jewish Christians would have meant a final battle. It appears that the disciples, especially Matthew, the gospel writer, expected this to happen sooner than later.

The cross becomes the weapon by which the Powers would be defeated. It is the cross we are called to bear. Our baptisms mark us and threaten us, not because of some magical, mystical forces are out to get us, but because we are a threat to the Powers and Principalities as we call them down and name Jesus Christ as our Lord. That is the real threat! The believer’s cross is, lie that of Jesus, the price of social non-conformity. It is not, like sickness or catastrophe, an inexplicable, unpredictable suffering; it is the end of the path freely chosen after counting the costs of discipleship. It is the social reality of representing in an unwilling world the Order to come. Jesus knew it.

Paul thought so too. Colossians 1:15-17 wrote: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and all things subsist in him.
The word translated “subsist: in verse 17 has the same root as the modern word “system.” The apostle Paul says that this is the share of Christ in creation. In Christ, everything “systemizes,” and holds together for the NIV fans. It is the reign of order among creatures, order which in its original intention is a divine gift. Most of the references to the “Powers” in the NT consider them as fallen. It is important therefore to begin with the reminder that they were part of the good creation of God. Society and history, even nature, would be impossible without systems, order. God provided for that need.

Yet they remain fallen. They are no longer active only as mediators of the saving creative purposes of God; now we find them seeking to separate us form the love of God (Rom. 8 ); we find them ruling over the lives of those who live far from the love of God (Eph.2); we find them holding us under their tutelage (Gal 4). These structures which were supposed to be our servants have become our masters and guardians.

Yet even in this fallen and rebellious state the working of the Powers is not simply something limitlessly evil (in spite of what you thought I believe prior to this statement). The power, despite their fallenness, continue to exercise an ordering function. Even tyranny (Rom. 13) is still better than chaos and we should be subject to it. The Law is even righteous and we should obey it (Gal 4).

Look Romans 13 is correctly interpreted this way:

1) The powers were created by God to bring a network of norms and regularities to offer some semblance of order to the chaos. Since the beginning, according to our Jewish story, God has been concerned with ordering the chaos.

2) The powers, with all creation, have rebelled and are fallen. They claimed for themselves an absolute value and knowledge that attempts to co-opt God. They have thereby enslaved humanity and our history. We are bound to them. We are slaves to them as we are outside of Christ. In both the OT and the NT, slavery is our common language for obedience to either Christ or the powers. The Israelites were never fully free, they would be slaves to Egypt or slaves to God. Today, the same remains. We are either slaves to Jesus and His divine will or we are slaves to the Powers and the culture.

3) Despite their fallen condition, the Powers cannot fully escape God’s prevenient grace and sovereignty. God is still able to use them for good.

And so, if our lostness implies a subjection to these rebellious powers, what does it mean to be part of Christ? Subordination to these powers is what makes us human, for if they did not exist there would be no history nor society nor humanity. If then God is going to save his creation in their humanity, the Powers cannot simply be destroyed or set aside or ignored. Their sovereignty must be broke. This is what Jesus did, concretely and historically. The cross is a victory, the confirmation that he is free form the rebellious pretensions of the creaturely condition. Differing from Adam, Lucifer, and all the Powers, Jesus did “not consider being equal with God as a ting to be seized” (Phil 2). Now, a restored humanity is possible. For the first time we are shown the example of what it means to overcome the powers… not being a slave to any law, or custom, culture, value, theory, or Power.

Now, we get the Church involved in this. Now the people of all ages, races, and nations are coming together in Christ’s fellowship and this is a proclamation to the Powers that their unbroken dominion has come to an end. (See Berkhof, Christ and The Powers). The very existence of the Church is a threat. We are not called to armed violence either by Paul or by any of the rest of Scripture. We are simply called into existence. Being the Church is our primary task (which is why I love Derek’s music). Therefore, any attempt to become lords of the state only compromises our very task. Instead being separate and calling the Powers to task today’s Christians are seeking to overtake the Powers. This is not at all what Scripture calls for.

Let’s consider the Eye for an Eye passages in the Sermon on th Mount.
This is from one of my old sermons, so I apologize if something doesn't come out quite right.

First, let’s consider the audience. “If anyone strikes you… wants to sue you… forces you to go an extra mile…” In all three examples the listeners of Jesus are not the ones who initiates hitting, lawsuits, or imposing forced labor. The followers of Jesus are those who would be subject to this dehumanizing treatment. Now that we know that let’s look at some details. Walter Wink in his book Engaging the Powers gives us the specifics about what this passage may be telling us.

Why the right cheek? To slap someone on the right cheek you would use your left hand. But in that culture the left hand was only used for unclean tasks. One would never use their left hand for such important business. Also the intent hear is not to injure but humiliate. Furthermore, to hit with the fist is to acknowledge your foe as an equal. So how would you hit someone lower than you. You can only backhand slap with your right hand. And the backhand slap was the usual way of admonishing inferiors. But what if one turned to you the left cheek? Can you backhand slap me with your right hand? You would be forced to use your left hand for the back slap.

As Ghandi taught, “The first principle of nonviolent action is that of noncooperationwith everything humiliating.” By turning the left cheek the inferior has forced the hand of the superior. Unable to use the left hand, if the superior hits with his fist he makes the other equal in the argument, acknowledging him as a peer. The point of the back of the hand was to reinforce institutional inequality. Now, the superior has been stripped of his ability to place shame on the subordinate.

The second example Jesus gives is set in court of law. Someone is being sued for their outer garment. Wink’s understanding of the Hebrew Bible states that these types of lawsuits were usually about outstanding debts that were owed. Now, only the poorest of the poor would have only their garments to give as collateral for the settlement of a lawsuit. Now imagine in public a wealthy land owner is suing a homeless man for an outstanding debt. The poor man not only gives the outer garment but also the inner garment. This leaves the poor man standing naked in the court.

Again the tables have turned. Now, the shame falls on the wealthy creditor who is standing there with the outer garment in one hand and the inner garment in the other. The poor man had no hope of winning the case but now the poor man has transcended the wealthy man’s attempt to humiliate him.

Nakedness too was taboo in Judaism, but the shame would have fallen less on the naked party than on the person viewing or causing the nakedness. The debtor parades that nakedness in prophetic protest against the system that has deliberately render him destitute. Are you starting to see how this works?

Let’s look at the final example, go an extra mile. The previous two examples were ways to shame the Jewish system of oppression. Now it is the Roman’s turn. According to Roman law, a Roman soldier could levy forced labor onto the common person. However, there were Roman laws that limited the amount of work a Roman soldier could force a commoner to do. Consider Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross in the Passion narratives of the Gospels. There are historical accounts of whole Jewish villages that were forced to help transport military supplies from one town to another for the Roman army.

Jesus says, “go an extra mile.” Imagine the surprise of the Roman soldier when they reach that second mile marker and the Jew refuse to give back the pack. Now the Jew has taken the initiative. The oppressed has taken back the power of choice. Just picture a Roman infantryman arguing with a Jew to give him back his pack so he could carry it. The humor of this passage and this scene escapes us but to those disciples listening to Jesus they would have understood.

This is Jesus’ Third Way. Jesus was not saying simply be a pacifist. He was not teaching his disciples just to lay down and be beaten. Instead he was teaching His disciples to find a way to regain control… to show the oppressor, the violent aristocrat, the creditor, the Roman soldier, that they were not superior… they were equals. Jesus also did not say fight back. Jesus did not want evil to be returned for evil – to use the Words of St. Paul. No, Jesus encourages His disciples to take the initiative and show the oppressors the shame of what they are doing. The point is to find non-violent means… to turn the tables and respond to the evil that is dished out by the evildoers.

random thoughts on women in ministry

2008-10-01T08:31:00.000-05:00

Now, let’s consider several different scholar’s work regarding this topic and, of course, to answer the other question (which I will do further in another topic post) I will support all of this with Scripture (even if I think it is not completely necessary):

Genesis 1:26-27
Paul Jewett, using Karl Barth, explains this about the “imago dei”:
…now comes what may be called the first great surprise of the Bible… Genesis 1:27b (“male and female he created them”) is an exposition of 27a (“in the image of God created him”)… God created Man male and female. The primal form of humanity, then, is the fellowship of man and woman.”

A task Force of the World Council of Churches:
Genesis, chapter 1, describes God’s creative act in entrusting dominion over the creation not to man in the singular but in the plural. The plural is used in verse 26b, even before the mention of “male and female” in verse 27. Note also that their common mission is primarily to rule, while their fruitfulness… is described as God’s blessing upon them…. [This fruitfulness] is placed under… joint authority which characterizes the mission of man and woman.

Perry Yoder, agrees, and argues that “Adam” should be translated “humanity” since both sexes are included. A plural verb is used in “let them have dominion” (verse 26), and a plural pronoun occurs in “male and female he created them” (verse 27).

Neither is given priority over the other and neither is more godlike. The fact is that they are both created in the image of God which bestows inestimable worth!

Genesis 2:18-25
The Hebrew Word (thank God for Hebrew class) for “helper” is ezer. And this does not support the notion of inferiority or subordination. Ezer is found 21 times in the Old Testament. It is used to designate YHWH (in 9 different places). In 16 cases the word indicates a superior who “assists” us. In the other 5 verses it has no hierarchical sense. If the word ezer is to be interpreted as “an assistant or inferior” this would contradict its constant use in the OT.
In King Jimmy’s Version, the word “helpmeet” comes from the Hebrew word neged. Neged is a preposition meaning “before,” “in the presence of,” or “adequate” to meet all man’s needs for physical, intellectual, and social commission might be better translations for the Old-English “meet.” Meet in the Old-English means “fit” or “suitable.”
Yoder notes that the formula, “bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh” binds men and women together in all things. This should all emphasize the interdependence of men and women.

Genesis 3:16
Here I seems obvious that the Fall has caused this male domination. Phylis Trible explains that up to this point, as explained above, they are equals. Now, after the Fall, having been totally deprived the man asserts his domination. He names Eve asserting his rule over her. Don’t you see it is a curse.

Throughout the rest of the OT, women play important roles in leading the people of Israel, including being a Judge!
As already noted, once we step into the NT, we see Jesus and his care and compassion for women. He makes them equals without regard. He shows no prejudice. Women sat at his feet in places of high position. In the Resurrection narrative his first disclosure of His victory was to women. His relationship with women is distinct form the prevailing culture and the curse of male domination.

Now to Paul.
Gal. 3:28
I disagree with Berman. Richard and Joyce Boldrey regard this verse to be a manifesto of Christian freedom, mainly from sin and law, but also from the limitations of creation, since the phrase “male and female” follows the technical formula of Genesis 1:27. The two terms of the pair are not joined with “nor” as are the terms in the other two pairs, but with “and” (kai), thus showing dependence upon the Genesis formula. So Paul is saying that “in Christ.” Relationships between men and women should transcend the male-female division created by the Fall.

Paul here breaks down all barriers between the sexes (and races, social status). John Neufeld notes that while the early church did not succeed full female liberation from the curse, we should not use that cultural accommodation as a principle (cf. Slavery). Gal. calls us to a fully liberation reality.

I will save the discussion on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34-36 for the other thread. And so moving on…

Timothy (all Pastoral Epistle references)
Most scholars agree that this was a local situation in which women’s teaching exacerbated heretical developments. In viewing 2:11-15 within the context of the book’s wider teachings, one scholar notes that the congregation was threatened by various heresies (1:6-7, 4:1, 6:20) in which women played significant roles – leading worship and even teaching—which their newfound faith, in contrast to Judiaism, allowed. And so women were supposed to learn not teach because they needed to be instructed before they were qualified to teach.

The one wife qualification possibly is more about polygamy, but more likely about divorce. Divorce seemed to be a concern for Paul, as it was for Jesus… but unfortunately is not for us today, as we have many divorced pastors in all of our churches.. even the SBC.

And let’s get serious about all our cannons in the Canon. Why do we focus on Paul’s call for women to learn in silence and overlook what was stated just before it. I mean how many women will follow Paul’s instruction to “dress modestly.” How many women will worship with braided hair? How many will wear their gold wedding bands? How many wear pearls? How many have on “expensive clothes” (as if this isn’t subjective)? We ignore these, unless we are some form of Fundamentalists, and focus just on the silence part. And if that is true then why are so many women Sunday School teachers or worship leaders? Are they exercising authority over men in those position, or do we have to put some modern interpretation into Paul’s words regarding how we worship and teach children and small groups in the 21st century? We must be hypocrites.

Or maybe, more of you interpret scripture like me than you think. (again see my other thread about Scripture).

Yoder on Romans 13

2008-10-01T08:30:00.002-05:00

5 points are to be made, thanks to JH Yoder.
(Point 4 is specifically about the death penalty, for those comnig here from that thread)

1) The New testament speaks in many ways about the problem of the state; Romans 13 is not the center of this teaching.
The best example is that of the temptation of Jesus in which Jesus did not challenge the claim of Satan to be able to dispose of the rule of all nations. So first, we should be reminded that Romans 13 was written about a pagan government. Of course, the above argument from Paul about the Powers and Principalities should make this point crystal clear. I also direct your attention to Revelation 13 in which we find the image of government as persecuting the true believers; the same is true for Peter and James. Now, you can reject what the Scripture is saying but you cannot ignore it.

2) In the structure of the epistle, chapters 12 and 13 in their entirety form one literary unit. Therefore, the text 13:1-7 cannot be understood alone.

Chapter 12 begins with a call to non-conformity, motivated by the memory of the mercies of God, and finds the expression of this transformed life first in a new quality of relationships within the Christian community and, with regards to enemies, in suffering. The concept of live recurs in 13:8-10. Therefore, any interpretation of 13:1-7 which is not also an expression of suffering and serving love must be a misunderstanding of the text in its context.

The beginning of the unit of the text (12:1) ties its thought firmly back to the “mercies of God” as the theme of the previous portion of the epistle. These “mercies” included the unmerited calling of the Gentiles to the new life in God (chs. 1-5), the unmerited renewal of even the “body” through the Spirit (chs. 6- and the continuing unmerited redemptive concern of God for ethnic Israel (chs 9-11). The continuation of our passage (13:11-14) looks forward in hope of salvation so concretely imminent and historical as to be “nearer than when we first believed.” It issues in a new quality of concern for the “weak” (14:1-15:21) and in the gathering of financial and spiritual resources to support one another (15:26-29) and Paul(15:22-25, 30-33). The entire text thus sees non-conformity and suffering love as driven and drawn by a sense of God’s triumphant movement form the merciful past into a triumphant future. Any interpretation which makes 13:1-7 an expression of a static or conservative undergirding of the present social system would therefore represent a refusal to take seriously the context. Any interpretation in which God’s mercies are not seen as overcoming hostilities through the creation of community, reaching even to the nuts and bolts of financial sharing and missionary support, has covered over the meaning of each part of the text by not seeing its whole.

Further there are specific cross references which link 12 and 13. 13:8 begins with a verbal echo of 7. The submission to the Powers in 13:1 is motivated and exposited by the hope of 13:11-14. Verse 10, by expositing verse 8, also gives a definition of the “good” in verse 3, whereby the behavior of Christians under government is guided.

The is also a very specific dialectical interplay around the concepts of vengeance and wrath. Christians are told (12:19) never to exercise vengeance but to leave it to God and to wrath. The authorities are recognized (13:4) as executing the particular function which the Christian was to leave to God’s sovereign control. It is inconceivable that these two verses, using such similar language, should be meant to be read independently of each other. This make clear that the function exercised by government is not the function to be exercised by Christian. However able an infinite God may be to work at the same time through the sufferings of his believing disciples who return good for evil and through the wrathful violence of the authorities who punish evil, such behavior is for humans not complementary but in disjunction.

3) The subordination that is called for recognizes whatever power exists, accepts whatever structure of sovereignty happens to prevail. The text does not affirm, as the tradition has it, a divine act of institution or ordination of a particular government.

In Romans God is not said to have created, instituted or ordained the Powers that be, but only to order them, to put them in order, sovereignty to tell them where they belong, what is their place. It is not as if there was a time when there was no government and God made government through a new creative intervention; there has been a hierarchy and authority and power since human society existed. Its exercise has involved domination, disrespect for human dignity, and real or potential violence ever since sin has existed. Nor is it by ordering this realm God specifically, morally approves of what Government does. Nor does God take the responsibility for the existence of the rebellious “Powers that be” or for their shape or identity; they already are.

That God orders and uses the power does not reveal anything new about what government should be or how we should respond to government. A given government is not mandated or saved or made a channel of God’s will; it is simply lined up, used by God in the ordering of the cosmos. It does not mean that what individuals in government do is good human behavior.

The immediate concrete meaning of this text for Christian Jews in Rome, in the face of official anti-Semitism and the rising arbitrariness of the Imperial regime, is to call them away from any notion of revolution or insubordination. The call is to a non-violent resistant attitude toward the tyrannical government. This is a subversive text!

4) The function of bearing the sword to which Christians are called to be subject is the judicial and police function; it does not refer to the death penalty or war.

The sword (machaira) is the symbol of judicial authority. It was not the instrument of capital punishment, since the Romans crucified their criminals. It was not the instrument of war since it was but a long dagger. Like the pistol worn by traffic police officers or the sword worn by a Swiss citizen-officer, it was more a symbol of authority than a weapon. This is not to say that the roman government was mild or that this weapon was only a symbol. But what it symbolizes is the way a given government exercise dominion over its subjects by appeal to violence, not the execution of capital offenders or the waging of war against other nations.

It is time we take this Scripture seriously with correct exegesis, instead of simply carrying on with our interpretation based on “Christian” authority since Constantine. This pattern has so shaped our hermeneutics that we have a difficult time thinking like first century Christians as opposed to 21st century Christians. If we can read the text for the time and ask our questions about issues of violence in the context of Romans 12 and 13 appropriately only then would we realize how inappropriately we have treated this text.

5) the Christian who accepts subjection to government retains moral independence and judgement. The authority of government is not self-justifying. Whatever government exists is ordered by God; but the text does not say that whatever the government does or asks of its citizens is good.

“The authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.”
What is the grammatical construction of the participle “attending” (proskarterountes)? Most translations consider it a simple further predication: “the authorities are minister of God and they busy themselves with this very function.” But this is from a grammatical viewpoint not the most likely meaning o such a particular construction. It is more likely that the participle represents an adverbial modifier of the previous predication.

We would then read: “they are ministers of God to the extent to which they busy themselves’ or “when they devote themselves” or “in that they devote themselves” to the assigned function. In the strictest sense we might take this adverbial modifier restrictively: “they are ministers of God by virtue of their devoting themselves” to it. In any case, which ever of these be Paul’s intent, all of them assume that there are criteria whereby the functioning of government can be measured.

And so we can judge and measure the extent to which the government is accomplishing its ministry by asking namely whether it persistently (present participle) attends to the rewarding of good and evil according to their merits. To be “minister to you for good” is a criteria, not a description.

Further we have to examine “they are.” Who is “they” which “are”? Generally we assume that the rulers of verse 3 and the powers of verse 1 and 3 are somehow all merged together in one grammatical subject, which may either be feminine singular or masculine plural and always have the same meaning. This is, however, a very unusual way to disregard the keys to interpretation that gender and number provide. It is more appropriate to ask concretely what plural noun can be subject of “they are” in verse 6. The most recent such plural noun referring to the realm of government was the “rulers” in verse 3, but that is rather far back to reach for an antecedent. Thus some serious scholars, including Marcus Dibelius, have argued that it is more likely that “ministers of God” should itself by the subject.” Then it would read: “The ministers of God are there for the very purpose (as they persist)…”

Then we must further choose between two meanings of the noun “ministers” (leitourgoi). TheGreek usage of the time translated ministers to mean government functionaries, like those who gathered tax money. Since the preceding sentence referred to the vocabulary payment of taxes, it would make sense. But the most current biblical usage of the word, like its near synonym diakonos, refers to the priest or the Christian who “serves” God in the sense of worship and sacrifice. There is nothing in the text to make sure that Paul does not intend ‘ministers of God” to refer to Christians. This would also fit quite smoothly in the context: The Christian is subject for the sake of conscience; Christians pay taxes because Christians also devote themselves to the end that the good of government be approved and evil is reprimanded.

All grammatical interpretations of the verse must be subject o the risk of probability; the main thrust of our present paragraph is not dependant upon anyone eof the above hypothesis. This grammatical detour, should however, have permitted us at least to overcome the naïve sense of self-evidence with which the reader of the English text has often heard it being said as a simple affirmation that, whatever government does, it is serving God and therefore what it is doing is a ministry which the Christian should always share.

Let’s also consider that verse 7 says “render to each his due” and verse 8 says “nothing is due to anyone except love.” Again, we cannot divorce 13:1-7 from chapter 12 or 8 and on.

Further, it is not by accident that the imperative of 13:1 is not literally one of obdience. The Greek language has good words to denote obedience, in the sense of completely bending one’s will and one’s actions to the desire of another. What Paul calls for, however, is sub-ord-ination. This verb is based upon the same root as the ordering of the powers of God. Subordination is significantly different from obedience. The conscientious objector who refuses to do what government demands, but still remains under the sovereignty of that government and accepts the penalties which it imposes, or the Christian who refuses to worship Caesar but still permits Caesar to put him to death, is being subordinate even though not obeying.

The imperative and the ennoblement of this subordination are found not in the fear or in the calculation of how best to survive, but, as state above, in the mercies of God (12:1) or in “conscience” (13:5). And, as we witnessed last week (Holy Week) we can see that our subordination to the government and the willingness to suffer for the sake of love, even to love our enemies, is to participate in God’s victory over the rebellious Powers and Principalities. We subject ourselves to government because it was in so doing that Jesus revealed and achieved God’s victory for us, as the first o submit to the authorities and yet overcome them and their grip on humanity.

That is what it means to have salvation in Jesus Christ, to have our debts canceled and our wounds healed. It is that we are no longer in their dominion but in God’s dominion over and against the Powers of evil.

Yoder on interpreting scripture

2008-10-01T08:30:00.001-05:00

Now, I want us to consider the following which is highly influenced by J.H. Yoder’s book The Politics of Jesus and so war will be the case study.

When modern Christians approach the OT with the question of war in mind, our attitude tends to be a legalistic one and the questions we ask tend to generalize. We ask, “Can a Christian who rejects all war reconcile his position with the OT story?” If the generalization that “war is always contrary to the will of God” can be juxtaposed with the wars in the OT which are reported as having been according to the will of God, the generalization is destroyed.

This approach hides from us the realization that for the believing Israelite the Scriptures would not have been read with this kind of question in mind. Rather than reading with the modern question in mind, whether it confirms certain moral generalizations or not, the Israelite read it as his or her own story, as the account of his or her own past throwing light on who he or she was. A story may include a moral implication or presuppose moral judgements, but it does not necessarily begin at this point.

One of the traits of the OT story, sometimes linked with bloody battles but also sometimes notable free of violence, is the identification of YHWH as the God who saves [God’s] people without their needing to act. When we seek to test a modern moral statement, we are struck by the parts of the story that do not fit our modern pattern; but the Israelite reading of the story was more likely struck by the other cases, where Israel was saved by the mighty deeds of God on their behalf…

(In references to Moses and Joshua’s response to the Amalekites) When Israel uses the sword, in a most fearful and destructive way, the victory is credited not to the prowess of the swordsmen or the wisdom of the generals [or the President’s and Pentagon), but to the help of YHWH…

It is the general rule of proper textual interpretation that a text should be read for what the author meant to say and what its first readers or hearers would have heard it say. Whether taking human life is morally permissible or forbidden under all circumstances was not a culturally conceivable question in the age of Abraham or that of Joshua. It is therefore, illegitimate to read the story of the planned sacrifice of Issac or of the Joshuanic wars as documents on the issue of morality of killing...

If with the cultural empathy that is the elementary requisite for honestly understanding any ancient documents, we measure [Jesus’ or The Bible’s] meaning not by what we can possibly conceive of as happening but by what his listeners can have understood, then we are forbidden to filter the message through our modern sense of reality, of the uniformity of nature and the inconceivability of the extraordinary.

OK having quoted and re-phrased all of that, I think it is safe to say that while the case study is war we should apply this method to all of our theological and hermeneutical issues. We too often try to read Scripture and apply to today before we have even given it any kind of textual consideration (or consideration of our own interpretation methods). To ask The Bile to answer our modern questions regarding specific issues like women in ministry, spiritual demons floating around and impacting our world, women and their veils, slavery, or even wonder what God’s call on my life is this year is completely and utterly irresponsible.

Furthermore, I am just as guilty, as I pointed out in my women in ministry post that we are all guilty of reading Scripture in a way that suits us. We all ignore and explain away the parts that don’t fit our presupposed patterns of living and understanding. We all come to the table with differing experience, tradition, and reason regarding our interpretation. What we have to do, is not be literal in our understanding, but seek to find major themes within that will help our modern sensibilities. (another great example is who we in the church have disregarded the literal Biblical understanding of divorce.)

For example, can we consider what Paul has to say about gifts, hope and faith without considering what he has to say about Love. Love seems to be THE overriding theme throughout the NT, and the entire canon. All of you Calvinists who are trying to teach me the Doctrine of Grace should know this much is true. Grace and love are the only eternal. Consider Paul in his letters to the Corinthians and how he discusses with them their problems and arguments of the abuse of Spiritual gifts and authority. Paul says what is most important? Love. The gifts will all fade away. Authority is temporary. Even faith and hope have their limitations. Love lasts forever. It is above all else. So to follow Jesus command to “love the neighbor as the self,” “to love enemies” is one theme that stands out above all of the little stuff that will all fade away (and has faded away according to our little cannons). Another theme is community. As is pointed out above in AC’s question, what do we do with the selling possessions bit from the beginning of Acts. We consider it in the entire context of The Bible. We ask what it meant for the author and the readers. And we come together and try to make some sense of it for us today. To me, it points, not to a literal selling of goods in order to be communistic, it emphasize the role of the community of faith. The purity and unity of God’s Community is a theme from Genesis to Revelation.

When interpreting Scriptures in our modern age (or post-modern age) we have to be careful as to how we understand Scripture itself. Is it a mirror or window or something altogether different? The diversity of our interpretations is not a liability, it is a strength!

2008-01-16T16:03:00.000-06:00

I have moved

2007-08-28T13:45:00.000-05:00

My new blog... for many reasons is:
http://pastorchrisroberts.blogspot.com

I plan to post some of my old posts form this blog and I intend on coming back here from time to time to post here as well.

Wheat, Wine, Water, and Wonder

2007-07-30T13:35:00.000-05:00

All that we do is empowered by God and all that we have is a gift of God’s Grace. We need God if we are to do and have anything. The sacraments remind us of this fact. The title of James White’s book on the sacraments explains in a nutshell the meaning and significance of the sacraments: Sacraments as God’s Self-Giving. He states, “Roman Catholics and many Protestants consider sacraments to be divinely given means of grace wherein God’s self-giving occurs here and now… they affirm that God does act anew in the sacraments.” During the moments of sacrament, more than in any other part of the service, God is pouring out God’s grace. God is giving God’s love. God is giving away part of Godself to the individual receiving the sacrament. During these moments we have an opportunity to respond to God’s grace by receiving the elements. They are the greatest acts we truly do “in remembrance of Him.”

The sacraments are rather ordinary. The elements are merely bread, wine, and water. Yet, through these ordinary items God does the extraordinary. (I regret that this is not what I was taught as a boy in the Southern Baptist Church.) Wesley called them “ordinary means of grace.” He wrote, “By ‘means of grace’ I understand outward signs, words, or actions ordained by God, and appointed for this end—to be the ordinary channels whereby [God] might convey to [humankind] preventing, justifying, and sanctifying grace.”

I, like most people, can relate to the ordinary—the plain and simple, not the spectacular or fancy. We are reminded through the sacraments that if God can use common bread, wine, and water, then God surely can use us, humans, to be a means of Grace. God will work through ordinary humans to accomplish God’s perfect will.

Baptism is perhaps the most significant act in the life of the Church. God does much through the gift of Baptism. Baptism signifies the washing away of sins, cleansing of our souls, new birth (regeneration) in Christ, incorporation into the community of faith, and the transformation by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps most importantly, at our baptisms we are initiated into the ministry of Jesus Christ. God not only claims us at our baptisms but God also assigns us a mission.

Stanley Hauerwas and Bishop Wil Willimon write in their book Resident Aliens, “When we are baptized, we (like the first disciples) jump on a moving train. As disciples, we do not so much accept a creed, or come to a clear sense of self-understanding which we know this or that with clear utterance. We become part of a journey…” Rather than being a one time event, our pious ritual, our baptisms are the point at which we join the journey. Jesus Himself makes this point when He explains that He is constrained by His baptism: “I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what a stress I am under until it is completed!” (Luke 12:50) Not that Jesus needs to be re-baptized, but that He has the duty to live out the vow of the baptism which has already taken place.

Because this is God’s gift and because this gift is merely the initiation of a new member on the journey, no one should be rejected for baptism. I affirm the church’s stance on baptism for anyone at any age. Baptism is also an act of the outpouring of God’s divine Grace. It is a communal event that has practical results. Baptism marks the initiation into God’s catholic Church. For a child, it marks the initiation into a process of learning about and participating in God’s Church and God’s Grace wherein confirmation is crucial so that baptized children rightly “remember” their baptism.

Because the sacrament of Holy Communion, like the sacrament of baptism, is God’s gift, all people are welcomed to God’s open table. Everyone needs the spiritual nourishment of Holy Communion. Wesley wrote that, “This is the food of our souls: this gives strength to perform our duty, and leads us on to perfection.” While I affirm our rejection of transubstantiation, in the Eucharist the story of faith comes alive in word and action. We not only remember Christ’s death, we eat of his body and drink of his blood. We remember His ultimate sacrifice for our sins and then, as we pray The Great Thanksgiving together, we “offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to [God]." When we participate, God is including us in God’s story today.

It is my desire to make the celebration of the Eucharist central to our worship. I will seek to teach a United Methodist understanding and explain the sacraments to members of all ages. I strongly endorse This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion as passed by the General Conference in 2004. I also support the report’s recommendations and seek to fulfill its directives. As the report suggests, I encourage my congregation and will encourage future congregations to adopt the weekly celebration of communion as part of our ordinary Sunday service.

In the end, the sacraments are what we accept by faith. They are a gift from God given to the Church. Unbelievers may even find it peculiar the way we perform the sacraments. They are difficult to explain, but once they are experienced one knows they are real. “When the Bible speaks of mystery it refers to a way in which God is disclosed to whomever God chooses. It is a self-giving that transcends human ability to understand fully, yet it can be received in wonder and awe. God’s self-giving is mysterion, beyond our power of intellect.”[6] The sacraments are mysteries, but these mysteries are wonderful, ordinary gifts of God’s grace. For them I am very thankful.

My blogging hiatus... I know you missed me

2007-07-23T14:49:00.000-05:00

Things are busy. I have never been as busy as I have been since the Senior Pastor at the church left in May for sabbatical. In fact, I told the part-time, retired visitation pastor and my SPRC chair that I am starting to feel a little burn. A couple weeks ago I had a meeting every night and a wedding rehearsal on Friday (Thank God I didn't have to officiate the wedding on Saturday), Of course, then I preached Sunday. Last week was VBS. We are planning a concert (Twila Paris on August 6) and that is taking up much time. As well, the Trustees are investigating the purchase of the building next to our new office. On top of all of that I am preaching more and the ~$700,000 project in the lower-level brings its own set of problems. We are also planning a celebration concert with Ken Medema in September for the Senior Pastor and his wife. I am also planning the All-church picnic as well as a young adult event each month for the young adults (and their kids) at the church. Further, I am trying to coordinate a young adult group to stay active and get some of our great ideas for the young adults in our Conference to become a reality.

I have been asked to be on the board of Kokomo Urban Outreach, teach a lay speaking class this Fall, and be on a Kairos Prison Ministry team. On top of that, I have e-mailed my DS and Bishop Coyner and asked to be part of the young adult team that will work with the Imagine Indiana implementation team. I have not made firm commitments to the former three and would give up one or two to make latter happen -- I feel that young adult input is important to the future of our conference.

Family stuff includes: My wife still working 2 nights a week (baby sitters for the children when we are both out); early July was my oldest daughter’s b-day; this past week was my youngest daughter’s b-day; family from out of town came the week in-between for their birthday party; My 9-year anniversary was mid-July and I am still trying to plan a night out for my wife and I. And of course, my wife is pregnant and I try to go with her to the OB appointments

So my life is CRAZY.

PS: I just finished Unbinding The Gospel, from the Bishop's Bundle. And this past weekend I read Confronting the Controversies by Adam Hamilton. Don't ask me how I find time to read. The Unbind the Gospel is great book.

The Laying on of Hands

2007-06-07T19:10:00.000-05:00

(Yup, I'm in there.)

Ordination Chain for C.S. Roberts

On September 1, 1784, John Wesley ordained Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey deacons. The next morning, September 2, 1784, Wesley ordained Whatcoat and Vasey Elders and Thomas Coke superintendent. A few days later the three of them set out for America with documents and instructions from Wesley for the founding of The Methodist Church in America.

During a conference held in Baltimore in December of 1784, that purpose was consummated and Francis Asbury was ordained deacon, elder, and superintendent by Thomas Coke on December 25, 26, and 27, respectively.

Francis Asbury ordained Elijah Hedding; Hedding ordained Randolph Sinks Foster, Foster ordained Harry Lester Smith; Smith ordained Ralph T. Alton.

Ralph T. Alton ordained me, and on this 2nd day of June, 2007, I ordained you an Elder in The United Methodist Church.

Michael J Coyner, Bishop
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church

Heretical Amish Rock Band

2007-06-05T15:34:00.000-05:00

Trinity Schminity by Pastor Steve Winter
"You say you have a trinity of gods to be esteemed
That they hold power equally and live eternally
You say there are three persons in this holy trinity
And God don't really care what you and I believe"

"Trinity Schminity don't believe the lie. (2x)
Cause if you do your soul is gonna die.
you can't just make up Gods as you go along"

A New Law by Derek Webb

2007-05-27T21:39:00.000-05:00

This is a video produced to illustrate the meaning behind Derek Webb's song "A New Law." This song is on Derek's previous CD Mockingbird. Mockingbird is an awesome CD. Of course anything by Derek is powerfully written and beautifully played. Enjoy the song.

Here are the lyrics (please note the heavy sarcasm laden in the lyrics):
don’t teach me about politics and government
just tell me who to vote for

don’t teach me about truth and beauty
just label my music

don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law

(pre-chorus)
i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me

(chorus)
i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law

(vs. 2)
don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice

don’t teach me about loving my enemies

don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law

(pre-chorus/chorus)

(bridge)
what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid

Jesus Videos

2007-05-25T12:56:00.000-05:00

A church in Raleigh made these videos and played them as part of a sermon series roughly titled "aren't you glad that Jesus isn't like this?"

There's four of them, and they are hilarious.

This is the 3rd one, which i think is the funniest. You can find the other 3 on the side of the video on YouTube.

What pastors do so you can do

2007-05-23T17:53:00.000-05:00

Our responsibility, our diakonia, as pastors, is to prepare others for their diakonia, as we are advised in Ephesians 4. It does the local church little good for the pastor to do all the ministries of the church. We have to help the laity recognize their gifts and graces for diakonia. We can hope that once these gifts for service are known that the people will use them for the betterment of the Church. “The greatest challenge facing the church in any age is the creation of a living, breathing, witnessing colony of truth.” I hope the church is up for the challenge of diakonia.

To illustrate, I had a youth in a previous church approach me about discerning a calling into mission ministry. While encouraging her, I mentioned this within the church and spoke to her mom about this great news. Within the week, the student’s grandmother came by my office to inform me that I was no longer to encourage her granddaughter to be a missionary. She explained to me that her granddaughter was not going into the poor neighborhoods of the world to help other people … she was going to go to college. With this kind of attitude the church is bound to fail in its mission from Jesus and the Church to serve the world by being the Body of Christ. My responsibility with youth is to teach and inspire them to be of great use to God, not simply play games for a couple hours each week.

Diakonia, service, is the most important aspect of ministry in the Church. It is how outsiders are going to recognize the God that lives in us. It is a radical challenge for the Church to answer that call to service. Answering that call means being profoundly counterintuitive and risking some discomfort in order to align ourselves with God’s will. This means looking beyond the familiar family and friends and making friends with people outside our cultural comfort zones. This means sharing God’s life-saving message with others even if we may be embarrassed or uncomfortable. This means questioning our motives to see if they are dictated by truth or by culture. This means responding to evil with good. Diakonia may not be easy. It may be risky, but service is absolutely necessary.

Know why your pastor is a pastor

2007-05-21T15:27:00.000-05:00

Ministry is modeled by Jesus. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Diakonia is the Greek word from the New Testament which we call “ministry.” Diakonia is the Greek word for service. Based on Jesus’ model of ministry this notion of diakonia is significant. Service is a method by which all Christians perform ministry. My understanding of diakonia, or service, is that it was modeled by Jesus and should be performed by each and every Christian, not just the pastor.

The pastor has a responsibility to be a servant. In fact, pastors exist with a paradox of servant leadership. Jesus gives this model. It is the call to love and care for the fellowship of believers. To be a servant leader is to be cautious with our authority and power and continually display love and kindness to others. These services includes pastoral care and counseling, visitation, and taking the sacraments to the sick. Diakonia means being open for people to trust you with their problems and deepest concerns.

Service is also demonstrated by the pastor through modeling. As Will Willimon writes in his book Calling and Character, “Clearly, pastors are to be role models for the church, without separation between public and private, social and personal behavior… In all things, it is clear that Christian leaders are visibly to represent a manner of life and a style of leadership in marked contrast to that of the world.” Like Jesus, we are models of diakonia, service. We demonstrate service through our giving, serving, and loving of others in our local church and community.

Jesus served the people that surrounded Him. He brought physical, psychological, and spiritual healing to those who needed it. He fed the hungry. He stood up for the oppressed. Jesus offered salvation and liberation. Jesus was a servant.

Christ’s model is for the entire church. The problem in many local churches, from my experience and from hearing other pastor’s experiences, is that this diakonia, or service, has been relegated to the pastor. The attitude is, “Isn’t this why we pay the pastor?” Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon write in Resident Aliens, “Not knowing why their pastor is there, the congregation expects the pastor to be and do everything.”

Hauerwas and Willimon continue to explain that it is not our job to be “divinely sanction doormats.” They address the confusion of many congregations who neither understand the purpose of the Church nor the role often pastor: “[People] think the church is sustained by the ‘services’ it provides or the amount of ‘fellowship’ and ‘good feeling’ in the congregation. Of course, there is nothing wrong with ‘services’ and ‘good feeling’; what is wrong is that they have become ends in themselves.” As a pastor, I do not feel I am called simply to run programs, facilitate carry-in dinners, baby-sit youth, massage egos, or make people feel “warm and fuzzy.” My primary service to the people is one of remaining true to God’s message. This may mean that we have to confront a parishioner with an encouraging or a discomforting word of advice or Biblical message. This may mean questioning programs that are useless or supporting distractions that interrupt sincere service to God. It is a service to the people to tell them the story of our faith.

“Failing at that, the pastoral ministry is doomed to the petty concerns of helping people feel a bit better rather than inviting them to dramatic conversion. The pastor becomes nothing more than the court chaplain, presiding over ceremonies of the culture, a pleasing fixture for rites of passages like weddings and funerals ... the pastor feels like a cult prostitute, selling his love for the approval of an upwardly mobile, bored middle class….”

Diakonia means providing services so that move people closer to the bigger message. We serve God by serving others. We love God by loving others. The pastor’s social services should always help the Church understand the spiritual aspects of being the present and living Body of Christ.

Ordination and responsibility

2007-05-17T15:27:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday and Wednesday I attended a retreat (more like a sleep-over) with the Bishop. It was short and disappointing. I had hoped to get more time with Bishop Coyner, asking important questions. As I approach my ordination in just a couple of weeks, I am thinking much about what it means to be ordained.

Ordination is the appointment and recognition of an individual to perform special tasks given to him or her by a community which confirms the gifts, graces, and commitment of that individual. Ordination acts as a special blessing on certain individuals to fill a need within the Church – priestly leader. This priestly leader should be designated by the community to have authority in the Church.

William Willimon in his book Calling and Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life writes, “It is great grace to be able, in difficult times of ministry, to fall back upon the authorization, that empowerment that is beyond ourselves.” Ministry is not an easy profession. It has its blessings and its challenges. Serving the people of the local church and the greater world community offers a difficult and diverse set of tasks. Statistics regarding burnout for pastors are painful to read. At the same time, I can understand why some would leave this vocation, even with a calling.

Ordination plays an important role for the pastor because we can remember the authority and empowerment of the Church to be in such a position. As Willimon continues, “The authorization of God and the church, symbolized by the laying on of hands, is our strength in our weakness. Ordination makes us more than we could have been if we had been left to our good intentions and well-meaning devices.” When facing the challenges, as a pastor with that authority, one only has to remember the trust that has already been given. Doubt may be common but assurance comes in memory of that Ordination.

Ordination conveys authority to do specific tasks in the church that require a person set aside to do those duties. Being tapped by God for pastoral ministry is a special calling. To have the confirmation of the Church and the blessing to administer the sacraments, preach God’s Word, evangelize and engage individuals with pastoral care and counseling is an honor. People in the faith community trust the pastor because they trust the process.

The local church must have faith in the process of Ordination. The local church has to recognize the greater community’s decision to select certain individuals to perform these special duties. Expectations should be high for the process and for the ordained. The local church should expect that this person would have formal education. The pastor should be physically, emotionally, and spiritually ready for ordained ministry. The process should carefully observe, instruct, and examine each candidate. Ordination implies trust.

This trust should also be reciprocal. The local church has the responsibility to trust the judgements of the greater Church community and to support its decisions. The greater Church has the responsibility to designate and send. Yes, the local church should expect a qualified candidate, but the greater Church should expect the local church to accept the leadership appointed. Being part of the Annual Conference means that the Ordained pastors and each local church is dedicated to needs of the Conference. By designation, one is accepting the authority on the terms of God and of the Church upon Ordination. Commitment is to God and the church, not programs, buildings, or personal preferences. The commitment to ordination meaningful and effective only when the pastor, the local church and the greater Church body is working in a trusting and caring relationship. Ordination is an honor and a privilege for everyone involved.

Nightline to present Christianity debate

2007-05-09T17:04:00.000-05:00

News Release
ABC is launching a new series called Nightline Face-Off, but it will launch it on the company's broadband service, ABC News Now, and the Nightline section of its Website, before it airs on the Nightline broadcast.
Not easing into the format, Nightline's inaugural face-off will be between atheists and Christians over the existence of God.
On the Christian side will be former Growing Pains star turned minister Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, Cameron's co-host on religious reality show, The Way of the Master. They will square off against the creators of http://www.blasphemychallenge.com/, a group and Website that offers to give copies of documentary "The God That Wasn't There" to the first 1,001 people who will post a video to YouTube showing them "damning themselves."
When ABC ran a story in January about hundreds of atheists video-taping themselves blaspheming the Holy Spirit, Ray Comfort contacted the network and told them he could prove God’s existence, absolutely, scientifically, without mentioning the Bible or faith . He said that he and Kirk would like to challenge the two originators of the “Blasphemy Challenge” to a debate on the existence of God. ABC loved the idea. The debate will be filmed for Nightline in New York City, and will be streamed LIVE on their website on May 9th, 2007.
The site is the handiwork of the Rational Response Squad, an atheist support group that Nightline featured on a January broadcast, prompting Comfort and Cameron to challenge them to a verbal duel.
ABC will debut the debate May 9 at 2 p.m. online and then air it during Nightline's regular 11:35 time period.
The debate will be moderated by Nightline co-anchor Martin Bashir
*****************************
What an embarrassment!
How does one even speak of God without speaking of The Bible or faith. Sure God exists in every corner, but faith in something is at the center of all our talk, especially our talk about God. One will have faith in God or faith in something else. But, as Rob Bell states in Velvet Elvis, everyone is a believer in something... the question is: “A Believer in what?”

Finally, what difference will it make if one proves the existence of God scientifically? Will this proof translate into more Disciples, more peace, more Grace… more God?

What and embarrassment!

Reflections on abortion

2007-05-07T15:31:00.000-05:00

The United Methodist Social Principles state:
The beginning of life and the ending of life are the God-given boundaries of human existence. While individuals have always had some degree of control over when they would die, they now have the awesome power to determine when and even whether new individuals would be born…. We commit our Church to continue to provide nurturing ministries to those who terminate a pregnancy, to those in the midst of crisis pregnancy, and to those who give birth.

I uphold our official statement on abortion in the Social Principles. I respect the sanctity of life and am committed to provide care on behalf of the Church to mothers and fathers who are considering abortion or have had an abortion.

Over the past several years I have become more involved in this area of ministry. I have worked with an organization called Birthright (www.birthright.org) which respects mothers and unborn children and whose tenants and practices are in harmony with our Social Principles. Birthright offers free pregnancy testing, confidential help, non-judgmental advice, legal, medical, and educational referrals, maternity and baby clothes, information on other community services, and adoption information. Birthright is committed to caring for the situation without undue pressure or politicizing the issue of abortion. I have helped with volunteers at the Birthright office, offered pastoral care to mothers and fathers, encouraged the local church to support Birthright through their mission budget, and put together work teams to do maintenance to the local Birthright office.

I am committed to caring for mothers and fathers in crisis pregnancy situations. I do not believe abortion is a political issue. I do not believe it is appropriate to protest at abortion clinics. Lobbying congress will not end the tragedy that is abortion. Overturning Row v. Wade will not heal the wounds or ease the pain that is so deeply felt in these difficult situations. What women and men need during these difficult times is the love and grace of Jesus Christ and the care and compassion of God’s Holy Church.

The Church has not always done her job well in regard to abortion. There are times when certain congregations or individual Christians express judgmental and self-righteous attitudes. There are even moments when the certain churches or individual Christians are mean or evil in their self-appointed crusade against abortion. I do not support these organizations or individuals. Because abortion has become such a “hot-button” issue, any discussions should be handled professionally and with the grace of God.

I am also involved with Lifewatch, the Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality (www.Lifewatch.org). I am the contact person for Lifewatch in the North Indiana Conference. The mission of Lifewatch is:
Out of obedience to Jesus Christ, the Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality (TUMAS) will work to create in church and society esteem for human life at its most vulnerable, specifically for the unborn child and for the woman who contemplates abortion. Therefore, TUMAS's first goal is to win the hearts and minds of United Methodists, to engage in abortion-prevention through theological, pastoral and social emphases that support human life.

The advisory board for Lifewatch includes three bishops, several pastors and faculty of our United Methodist seminaries, and various laity, including Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, Bishop Wil Willimon, and Dr. Thomas Oden. I have attended Lifewatch’s annual meetings and encouraged the local church to support Lifewatch through their annual missions budget.

At the 2005 Annual Conference I submitted a petition asking all clergy and those in the order of deacons to respond to ¶161(k) Ministry to Those Who Have Experienced an Abortion, which was a new addition to the 2004 Book of Discipline. The petition asked everyone involved in ministry in the North Indiana Conference “to become informed about the symptoms and behaviors associated with post-abortion stress… and make available contact information for counseling agencies that… address post-abortion stress.” This petition passed unanimously in the legislative group and was approved on the consent calendar by our conference.

While I am not defined by this one issue, the stress and wounds caused by abortion are issues for which I care deeply. Having three children of my own and watching the process of life growing in the womb, I have become more and more convinced of the importance of the issues surrounding abortion. It is my desire to help the Church find caring and constructive means of helping mothers and fathers in the midst of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies.

My reflections on our itinerant system

2007-05-02T15:58:00.000-05:00

When I first entered ministry I did not fully understand the expectations and obligations of itinerant system. Today, I am still not sure I fully understand them. However, now that I am serving in my third appointment I have a better understanding.

My first appointment was what I and the District Superintendent a “God-incident.” I was a student in seminary and unsure of my calling. While I felt called to pastoral ministry I explored other areas of ministry. I had contacted my District Superintendent in another Conference; for months I did not hear back about an appointment. My friends in the North Indiana Conference encouraged me to call a DS and inquire about a possible appointment. We spoke one afternoon and by that same evening he called me back with a possible appointment. In just a few months (only a month after our first daughter was born) my wife and I packed up our one bedroom apartment and moved to Indiana to pastor this small rural church while attending seminary and working on my commissioning. While I certainly faced struggles in my first appointment as a Student Pastor, I still believe that God was leading me and my family to move to Indiana to pastor that church. It had the possibilities to be a wonderful appointment. Initially it made for a good match. During that time I decided to stay in North Indiana and not return to the other Conference.

My first full-time appointment out of seminary was to another rural church. I knew that Bishop White and the cabinet knew almost nothing of my gifts and graces. In fact, during the years at my student pastor appointment the District Superintendent only came once to my church. He knew me better than anyone sitting around that Cabinet table, yet he knew very little. I was surprised to discover my second appointment—on paper at least—seemed identical to my student pastor appointment. This was “bad news” because I had so many struggles serving that small, country church. I feared an inevitable repeat of those same struggles and conflicts at the new church. I did not expect the cabinet to appoint me to a church with such similar qualities and characteristics. Yet, as an itinerant pastor I was obligated to go where the Bishop sent me.

While it may not have been the best appointment in my mind and I do not think that the Bishop and Cabinet knew enough to make a truly informed decision, I believe that God worked in spite of it all. We did have some of the same struggles at the new church, but God used me anyhow. I can look back now and see how it was truly a great match of the needs of the church and my gifts as their shepherd.

It may not always be easy, but my goal is to “blossom where planted.” Each church will have a set of unique challenges to overcome, but I believe that I can minister in almost any given context. Yet, I believe that there are some contexts that I know my passions, gifts, and graces will be put to better use. I believe this is true in my current appointment as the Associate at a larger urban church.

The itinerant system of the United Methodist Church has flaws, but when both the clergy and the conference leadership seek God’s Will as part of the process this itinerant system is a great way to build God’s Kingdom and care for both the clergy and the local congregations.

People left the church because of my blog

2007-04-23T14:36:00.000-05:00

Real ministry involves real people with real differences. Each person is given by God their own personal gifts and graces. The church is the place that brings together those unique individuals to build God’s Kingdom. While we remain uniquely gifted, we are united by the love of our Savior. The pastor has the privilege of working with a diverse group of people. I find it enriching to work with people different than myself. The difficulty lies in ministering in such a way that prepares the people within the congregation to minister to and along side persons who are different from themselves. Overcoming differences can be quite difficult; it can be painful and confusing. This challenge often makes us uncomfortable when it causes us to question long held beliefs.

Since I have been a pastor, I have worked with people who are very different than myself. In my first two churches I stood out as one of the youngest adults in attendance. While my wife and I are from a large metropolitan city, both churches I have served are in rural, farming communities. I enjoyed the differences. I loved learning about farming, milking cows, and water softeners. I once drove a combine. My wife and I appreciated the slower pace of life and the rural community in which to raise our children. I took time to find commonalities and learned to speak the “native language.” Most of the people accepted me and my family and loved us in spite of the differences. I was able to overcome the cultural differences and do productive ministry in the local church. Yet, while I did not have a hard time ministering to people different than myself, I found that some people had a hard time being ministered to by someone so different.

My age, my upbringing, my theology, my post-modern way of thinking were differences some had difficulty overcoming. While serving at my last church some members decided to attend other churches. To some it appeared that I was to blame because of personal differences. I made every effort to address their concerns. While very few expressed disagreement with anything I preached, I knew that some disagreed with aspects of my theology or opinions they read on this blog. Upon learning of those differences I sought to sit down with those people to lovingly discuss the difference that lie between us. There were no replies to my letters. Upon requesting a meeting during one phone call, a couple refused to meet with me. Again, while I worked to overcome differences others refused to even discuss them.

Jesus prayed for unity so that the world may believe (John 17). Unity is important to the kingdom. People will have different opinions, different theologies, different backgrounds, different thoughts, different personalities, different concerns, and different passions. But this diversity should not be an obstacle to unity. Unity does not mean sameness; it means oneness. That oneness requires working with people of different race, color, ethnicity, national origin, social status, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic condition, or those with disabilities

John’s Revelation clearly states that when we all get to heaven we will discover people from every tribe, language, people, and nation gathered to worship God for all eternity. Today, God’s Church should reflect God’s Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Reflections on my ministry, conclusion

2007-04-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

When I was told by my District Superintendent last November that I was being re-appointed to the Senior Associate Pastor position at a nearby large, urban church there was a large part of me that was disappointed. There is tremendous potential for that small rural church I was serving to grow to be a major light for Christ in that community. Further, my entire family had come to feel at home in those cornfields. My daughters had become close to many of the children at that church. My wife became very close friends with some of the members there. We felt like family. I had expressed a desire to both the SPRC and the DS to stay at at that UMC. However, I serve at the will of the Bishop. I believe that the needs of the church I am currently serving and the gifts and graces I bring are a tremendous match for the growth and future ministry of this church I am excited to be in my current appointment and I look forward to many years of successful and life-transforming ministry in this city.

In the end, I am not ashamed to preach the Truth, but I am much more careful about the application of the Truth. If the Church is as Scripture states “The Body of Christ,” then there is much I have to learn from the Church, each part of the body. I am growing as much as any other part of the body.

Today, I love the Lord with all my mind, but also with all my heart and soul. Theology involves both my heart and brain, and in fact my ministry must utilize both. One cannot trump the other. My theology is a result of my relationship with God. In turn, the art of theology continually grows my relationship with the Triune God.

Honestly, the fear remains. I remain fearful of a routine of acceptance—conflict—rejection because of my thoughts, opinions, or mistakes. But in the midst of future conflict I pray I can find assurance. Assurance comes not from me but from my call, my baptism, my God and His people. Ordination is a manifestation of that assurance. Ordination, like ministry itself, is a privilege, not to abuse or self-promote, but to have as an affirmation that God called me and the Church affirms that calling.

Everywhere I go, there I am. While others will have to learn to live with me, ultimately it is learning to live with myself that is most important.

Reflections on my ministry, weaknesses

2007-04-09T09:52:00.000-05:00

There are also areas of ministry in which I can grow and be strengthened. From the beginning I have suffered from what I call “ecclesiological puberty.” Student pastroring is trial by fire. This certainly was a learning experience. However, having never been a pastor, it was difficult being the sole pastor and having no one immediately at hand to help when I stumbled (and boy did I stumble). Further, I had certain ideas, as a new pastor, for how the church should function and the role of a pastor. This idealism set me up to be disappointed and discouraged. I also set myself up for unnecessary conflict because of my high idealism for the church. At times I am sure that I cam across as arrogant.

Growing up I was taught by teachers, mentors, and other institutions to believe that “knowledge is power.” I have always sought to learn and understand. Education remains important to me, as a husband, father, minister and in every area of my life. I love to read and learn. In seminary I excelled as a student. This new knowledge gave me insight into much about theology and church history. During my time in seminary, I solidified much of what I already believe and learned much that changed how I understood the church. In fact, many of my earlier assumptions about the church and the role of the pastor changed while in seminary. This no doubt frustrated some members of my church who were put off by my new found knowledge. I spoke to much of this in my spiritual auto-biography. The temptation was to use knowledge, less for the worship of God and the building of The Kingdom, and more for power, after all that is what I was taught. This lead to using my new vocabulary and enlightenment to be defensive and create unrealistic expectation for any church. I must tame my vision for the church and be patient for the church to claim ownership of the needed changes.

Today, while I remain interested in learning and understanding, I hope I have overcome much of that “ecclesiological puberty.” This is an area which will remain a challenge for me throughout my ministry. Yet I have matured both as a pastor and as a person and will continue to do so as I continue to work in pastoral ministry.

While I have certainly grown much in the area of pastoral care and counseling, this continues to be an area of ministry in which I will continue to be strengthened. I have spent much time sitting in living rooms and around kitchen tables just talking to people. I anticipate spending more time visiting parishioners and constituents in the hospital in my new appointment. Visitation and pastoral care is mostly a “ministry of presence.” Daily I am learning the art of listening and asking questions. I also believe that I am unqualified for many aspects of counseling and I believe that there will be times I must refer counseling to better trained therapists. Overall it is important for me to build relationships with people inside and outside the church. Therefore while this is a challenge for me, I believe it is an area in which I must improve.

Pastoral ministry offers many challenges. As a sinful person there are many aspects of my life in which I fall short. I know that as I continue to lean on God I will be lifted up during the difficult times and continue to grow all the time.

Reflections on my ministry, strengths

2007-04-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

Any gifts for ministry I have are only by the grace of God. I am often pessimistic in my abilities as a pastor, yet hopeful in God’s ability to work through me to accomplish the work of ministry. Therefore, self-evaluation is difficult because at any given moment I may excel or fall flat based on the movement of God’s Holy Spirit.

However, I also aware that God has especially gifted me in certain areas of ministry. Further there are some particular areas of ministry that I am more passionate about than others. Preaching and teaching are two areas of ministry which are both strengths and passions. While I maintain a healthy fear of both, as the responsibility is high for those who preach and teach the Gospel, I am confident in my ability to express God’s Word from the pulpit and in the classroom. I look forward to preaching on Sundays. Further, I enjoy leading and facilitating discussions about Biblical and theological topics.

Visioning is also a strength I have as pastor. I spend much time praying to discern God’s Will for both my leadership and the mission of the churches I serve. I devote myself to learning the strengths of the particular local church and the needs of the surrounding community. Additionally, I believe God has particularly called me to finding new ways of organizing the church so as to reach out to my generation and future generations. I have lots of ideas and dreams for how the Church can reach young people for Jesus Christ.

In that same regard, I am also passionate about evangelism. However, my understanding of evangelism is not passing out tracts or proselytizing. From the witness of Scripture and the church throughout the ages, evangelism is about building relationships with people and showing a how your faith impacts your everyday life. My District Superintendent invited me to lead a district workshop on evangelism.

Reflections on my ministry, part 4

2007-04-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

It was soon after commissioning that I came to learn about the changing ways we can do ministry in a post-modern, post-Christian world. I grew in my desire to create an emerging church focus. I wanted to find ways of making that a reality in a small, rural church. Many of the same concerns about poor theology remained. This time I sought to penetrate the heart instead of attacking the surface. I prayerfully discerned that the way to bring about change was not through demanding change, but through service.

As for my identity and being pigeon-holed, I wanted to define myself by what I was for and not by what I was against. There were certainly differences of opinions. But instead of preaching from my soapbox each Sunday, I reached out to the people where they were. There was much early success. We brought in new members in the first year and we had many unchurched visitors. This is a small but active church. There are several young families that became more involved as we offered more programming for families and children. I invested myself in getting to know many of the members of the “Young at Heart” group, made up mostly of folks over 75. It was my desire to build relationships with everyone in the church, from the youngest to the oldest.

I certainly made my share of mistakes as a newly commissioned pastor, but we took some risks and many of them paid off. When conflict arose, I handled it in an entirely new way. Unfortunately, this particular local church has a history of conflict. The pastors four pastors following my arrival had also been rejected through conflict by this congregation. I began to see a pattern in this small, rural church of exactly what I feared: acceptance—conflict—rejection. Yet, for almost two years I managed to keep the peace, resolve conflict when it arose, and have successful ministry.

When a major conflict finally hit, I was ready to respond appropriately. There were a number of complaints about happenings in the church that caused much of the conflict. A few complained about one sermon I preached at a special Lenten service in the community. Another was upset because of the word “catholic” in the Apostle’s Creed. Still others disagreed with my opinions about patriotism. While I attempted to explain the definition of “catholic” and I never once preached or taught against patriotism, those who were offended left the church. Others protested with their pocket books. This church who had financial problems when I started but ended 2005 with a $7,000 surplus now faced another financial crisis. It was part of the cycle that the church had developed in the past: conflict would come; people would leave; some would stop giving; the SPRC would panic; the DS would be called in with a request for a new pastor. This dysfunctional behavior is both conditioned and reinforced at this church. It had happened to the past several pastors. Recognizing the situation, I tried to reassure the SPRC and keep our focus on ministry. I attempted to reach out to the people who had left, but all of them refused to even speak with me. This dysfunctional cycle impacted our plans. The Trustees put the building plans on hold. The secretary quit and was not replaced. In the end, the SPRC panicked and the congregation was once again feeling the wounds of the past. Some started pointing fingers while others just got defensive.

My response was to attempt to keep the church focused on ministry. I did not want the conflict to overcome the positive ministries that were taking place. While we could not work through the conflict with those who left, the Church was able to overcome much of the conflict. I listened to them and helped them listen to each other. Together, we identified this systemic pattern of behavior and worked on a plan to break the destructive pattern. Grief, hurt, dissatisfaction were all openly shared. We continued with our regular ministries and had several excellent Bible studies and programs. Personally, I did not make some of the mistakes I had made at my first church. I refused to use the pulpit to express my feelings about the controversial subjects. While some personal attacks were made, I did not take the conflict personally. I recognized that most of the conflict was the result of events and happenings that took place long before I had arrived. In the end, the conflict we endured was healthy conflict; it was healthy for both myself and the church to productively work through past conflict and maintain a focus on the present and future ministries.

Reflections on my ministry, part 3

2007-03-31T08:57:00.000-05:00

While the church certainly suffered from my lack of leadership and immaturity, I felt the pain of their personal attacks and attacks on my family. One specific lady in that church made my life and ministry particularly difficult. She manipulated certain situations and maneuvered to pick at past wounds. It was during these days at my church that I felt depressed and discouraged. I only managed to overcome these personal hurts by focusing more on the “student” part of my Student Pastor title.

My ministry at this first appointment was not a complete loss. In spite of these difficulties God brought people to salvation and several new members joined. I witnessed members grow in their faith and walk with Christ. We had several successful youth events and one youth committed herself to full-time ministry.

In the end I didn’t light many candles; instead I drowned them with a fire extinguisher. That novice pastor was really no learned theologian. In fact, I discovered that I was only a novice theologian and a poor pastor. I learned to love God with all my mind but I forgot to love God with all my heart and soul as well. One does not outweigh the other.

After graduating from United and being commissioned by Bishop Woodie White in 2004, I started my first full-time appointment at a small church further into teh cornfields of Indiana. This was an opportunity to self-reflect, learn from my mistakes, and do better. But since “everywhere I go, there I am” I feared a repeat of the acceptance, conflict, and rejection that I experienced at the first church. There remained in me a seed of doubt that things could happen all over again. Yet this change of appointment offered me a chance at spiritual and pastoral resurrection.

With the help of my wife, who is in her final year of getter her Master in Counseling, I became more self-aware and discovered that I had made several critical errors at my previous church. While I desired to stand firm in my faith at the new church, I had to make a concerted effort to “speak the Truth in love” as is suggested in Ephesians. It became apparent that self-giving needed to be emphasized in place of self-pride. I invested myself in learning to speak the language of the context and culture, finding common ground to do ministry and gentle yet affirming ways to teach the theology that is dear to my heart.

Reflections on my ministry, part 2

2007-03-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

My first church desired a Student Pastor who was willing to help build the youth group. Since I was a Student Pastor and I had years of experience in youth ministry it seemed an appropriate match. At first the good people of this local church suffered through my mistakes and high idealism. However, our problems soon became evident.

While at seminary, I re-discovered my love for learning. My theology, worship, church history, and Bible classes rocked my world. Certain books taught me ideas that I had never considered. Previous assumptions about certain theological principles were challenged and re-framed. While the foundations of my theology remained steadfast—that which is affirmed in the Apostle’s Creed and may be described as Orthodox--much of my theology changed. I found much excitement and joy in learning to love God with “all my mind.” That novice pastor became an “enlightened” theologian.

This of course all carried over to the local church. I began preaching and teaching in what was probably very intimidating ways about redaction in Synoptic gospel, hermunitical principles, exegesis of soteriological and escatological pericopes and other expensive, seminary words. But frustrations grew on my part and on part of the congregation over even the most basic theology regarding justification by grace alone, following the Christian calendar, and overcoming poor but popular prosperity theology. Instead of sticking to the basics, I jumped feet first in the fire. Instead of trying to ignite a spark, I threw gasoline of the fire. I displayed a lack of theological restraint and self-control. The congregation no doubt experienced a high level of immaturity and pride. Theological classes were not tamed by the poor administrative classes.

The seminary desired to increase my confidence. Yet I felt my confidence was easily mistaken for arrogance. That may be because there was arrogance on my part. Fights ensued. They fired shots and I fired back. I abused of my authority as pastor. People left the church. To this day I am forced to ask myself: were those now empty pews a sign of upholding the Truth or a lack of love? At the time I didn’t know the contradiction of my ministry.

Reflections on my ministry, part 1

2007-03-21T15:26:00.000-05:00

My first appointment was to a small, rural United Methodist Church in the North Indiana Conference. Prior to this appointment, my wife and I were living in a small one-bedroom apartment in Cincinnati and I was attending seminary at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. While I knew I was called ministry I was unsure of what particular area of ministry to which God was calling me. I explored several different areas of ministry until I found myself behind the white-painted pulpit of that small, rural church.

I was young: a new husband and brand-new father. We were leaving behind our family and moving to a new state. It was in fact a whole new life. I had never before been in a small country church, never mind pastoring one. Most of my life had been spent in larger churches. I had grown up and was baptized in a Southern Baptist Church in my neighborhood. After meeting my wife-to-be I attended her family’s Holiness Pentecostal Church for several years. And it was while in college that my sweetheart and I got married and sought out a church of our own. God led us to the United Methodist Church.

The Southern Baptists taught me the Bible. The Pentecostals taught me about the movement of God’s Holy Spirit. The United Methodist Church filled in the blanks and taught me about what is most important: God’s amazing grace. It was while at this United Methodist Church that God re-awakened my call to ministry and I began seminary. It was soon after that when I began the candidacy process and began my Student Pastor appointment in Indiana.

So there I was. I had never been a pastor. Aside from the two weeks at Local Pastors License School, I knew nothing of being a pastor. But I felt called by God and called by God to pastor that specific church. Student Pastoring is difficult. I discovered in my conversations with my peers who also had Student Pastorates that we shared many of the same challenges. We not only struggled with having a full class-load and pastoring “part-time” and maintaining balance in our home life, but many of those small churches have their own issues. This local church had her share of problems. But my own problems certainly did not help.

Reflections on my ministry, intro.

2007-03-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

Our first professional obligation [as pastors] is to understand ourselves; without that understanding we are incapable of working with others in healthy and healing ways.
- Arthur Paul Boers, Never Call them Jerks

Everywhere I go there I am.
- Proverbial Wisdom of Alcoholics Anonymous

If it is true that in order to be help others I need to understand myself and I cannot escape myself, then self-awareness must be important to be an effective pastor. After several years in ministry I have found this task to be of primary importance. I have to be aware of my own issues and “baggage.” Avoiding my personal situation is deadly to my ministry. But at times self-awareness seems an impossible task. As a person I have several hats to wear: Christian, husband, father, son, pastor, committee member, on and on. I feel pressured on many fronts to be defined by others. There are many who want to pigeon-hole and label me. There are others who have agendas and will seek to use me. And it seems few desire that I be myself. Of course, defining myself takes time and energy; it is easier to accept a role or fill a job description. Yet, life is more complex than that.

If I have grown at all over the past five years as “pastor” it is in this area. In order to avoid mis-representations and false perception, I need to define myself. In order to avoid some conflict and difficult behavior, I need to be more self-aware. When I began my ministry, I had very little self-awareness and plenty of self-centeredness. Today I, no doubt, continue in that struggle (but even that statement reflects a move toward self-awareness).

I have faced many challenges in the ministry since I followed my call to pastoral ministry. Of course, ministry should be challenging. Real ministry with real people who deal with real problems should be challenging. Yet, I have found that many of the difficulties I faced were those I created or intensified. For the next several weeks, I would like to reflect more on how I have lived out that calling to pastoral ministry and the growth that has taken place in the past several years.

I made it

2007-03-13T20:38:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday, the Board of Ordained Ministry in the North Indiana Conference was bold enough to approve me for ordination at this year's Annual Conference. I would like to praise God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Thank my family, especially my ever-supportive wife. And the churches that have endured me and will have to put up with me in the future. It was 10 years in the making... now I just pray I don't screw up between now and June 2.

Also, I guess this means I will have to purchase some stoles!

PS: I hope to blog some of my story next week.

FYI

2006-12-17T21:39:00.000-06:00

I haven't been blogging much lately, in case you haven't noticed.
I have been reappointed to a new church.
I have been very busy planning the trasition and I will be packing and unpacking the next few weeks.
I hope that at some point in the next couple months I will once again be able to blog and blog about some of the events of the past several months (read: why I haven't been blogging so much).
While my move is unrelated to the conflict in my current church, I will say at this point that my blog has led to lots of conflict in my current church.
Stay tuned and have a Merry Christmas.

Progress on Bishop Coyner's goals

2006-11-07T15:24:00.000-06:00

When Mike Coyner first came back to Indiana as Bishop Coyner he granted an interview with The Indianapolis Star. He shared some of his goals for the United Methodist Church:
"One is to work on a 'culture of call' for clergy. I think clergy get too discouraged at times. We need to help them realize we're called to ministry. A second goal is a tradition of tithing -- to remind people that we give out of a sense of gratitude to God instead of meeting a church budget. Third is mission momentum. So many churches have been on mission trips. We have to keep reaching beyond ourselves. The fourth one is recruiting new leaders to reach younger generations. We're short on younger clergy. Only about 6 percent of our active clergy in the southern district of the state are under the age of 40. And it's only about 8 percent in the northern district."

I believe the Bishop is working on reaching these goals.
What do you think?

When there is conflcit, is it time to try the mega-church?

2006-10-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

Folks leave because of the pastor and pews and go to a church that pampers them.

2006-09-21T01:12:00.000-05:00

Me Church

What does it mean to "circumsise your heart"?

2006-09-14T20:27:00.000-05:00

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Jews were circumcised. In fact, one could not be a Jew and be uncircumcised. So even when a new adult Gentile converted to the faith of Israel, they were circumcised. It was part of the covenant Abraham had made with God. They would cut off the loose foreskin at the end of the penis. This was done in a ritual usually performed at a ceremony called brit milah when the boy is 8-days old. The ritual established a covenant between God and the individual. It was part of their identity as God’s covenant people.

But in this passage the writer instructs God’s people not just to circumcise their penis, but to circumcise your hearts. I think this means a couple things. First of all it says to me that being God’s children, being part of God’s covenant is about more than the way we look. It means that it isn’t good enough to just change one part of your body, you must also change your hearts… the inside. If we are to love those who are the least, the last, the little, and the lost, then we must change our hearts toward them. We can’t be stiff-necked, as it says in Deuteronomy. We can’t be cold, distant, or hard-hearted toward those who need our love and care. We must change our hearts.

Another point about what it means to circumcise our hearts, I think comes from what happens at circumcision. When my son Wesley was born I asked the doctor if I could watch his circumcision. Unfortunately that couldn’t happen because of hospital rules but the doctor explained in detail the procedure. Generally speaking, what happens is that during a circumcision the doctor cuts off the loose foreskin and pulls the skin back and then puts everything back together in a new shape.

This I believe is what must happen to our hearts. If we are to have circumcised hearts, we must allow the Spirit to cut off the loose areas of hearts. In a boy’s circumcision the foreskin, the part that is cut off, is discarded. Upon coming to God, there are parts of heart that must be cut off and discarded. We have to get rid of our hate, violent-tendency, lust, greed, pride, malice, discontent, prejudice and so much more. We have to take all of that and throw it away.

But also like male circumcision our circumcised hearts must take on a new shape upon discarding the old. If our hearts were shaped to love our stuff, then we must allow the Spirit to reshape our hearts to love God and others. If our hearts were shaped to regard people who are different as inferior, then we have to allow the Spirit to mold our hearts to recognize our own inferiority so that we can learn to love everyone. If our hearts were shaped to serve ourselves, we must allow the Spirit to reshape our hearts to serve others.

Our hearts are to be shaped so that we will serve those who cannot repay us. Jesus places a child before the disciples to prove his point. In the Old Testament we are told that we are to have a heart like God’s heart. What is God’s heart like you ask? Look again to the words of Deuteronomy. God’s heart is for the widow, the fatherless, the alien. God’s heart goes out to those who need. God serves those who cannot repay Him.

God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him and to each other. And God is the ultimate example of how we are to be.

Causes a sense of urgency doesn't it?

2006-09-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

We need to spread the Gospel before it is too late.

THE WTC TOWERS 1 and 2

Gordon McCannel Aamoth, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Maria Rose Abad, 49, Syosset, N.Y.*
Edelmiro (Ed) Abad, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Andrew Anthony Abate, 37, Melville, N.Y.*
Vincent Abate, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Laurence Christopher Abel, 37*
William F. Abrahamson, 58, Cortland Manor, N.Y.*
Richard Anthony Aceto, 42, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Erica Van Acker, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Heinrich B. Ackermann, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Paul Andrew Acquaviva, 29, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Donald L. Adams, 28, Chatham, N.J.*
Shannon Lewis Adams, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen Adams, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Patrick Adams, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Ignatius Adanga, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Christy A. Addamo, 28, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Terence E. Adderley, 22, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.*
Sophia B. Addo, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Lee Adler, 48, Springfield, N.J.*
Daniel Thomas Afflitto, 32, Manalapan, N.J.*
Emmanuel Afuakwah, 37, New York, N.Y.
Alok Agarwal, 36, Jersey City, N.J.*
Mukul Agarwala, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Agnello, 35, New York, N.Y.*
David Scott Agnes, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Joao A. Aguiar Jr., 30, Red Bank, N.J.*
Lt. Brian G. Ahearn, 43, Huntington, N.Y.*
Jeremiah J. Ahern, 74, Cliffside Park, N.J.*
Joanne Ahladiotis, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Shabbir Ahmed, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Terrance Andre Aiken, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Godwin Ajala, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Gertrude M. Alagero, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Andrew Alameno, 37, Westfield, N.J.*
Margaret Ann (Peggy) Jezycki Alario, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Gary Albero, 39, Emerson, N.J.*
Jon L. Albert, 46, Upper Nyack, N.Y.*
Peter Craig Alderman, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Jacquelyn Delaine Aldridge, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Grace Alegre-Cua, 40, Glen Rock, N.J.*
David D. Alger, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Ernest Alikakos, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Edward L. Allegretto, 51, Colonia, N.J.*
Eric Allen, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Ryan Allen, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Lanard Allen, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Dennis Allen, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Edward Allingham, 36, River Edge, N.J.*
Janet M. Alonso, 41, Stony Point, N.Y.*
Anthony Alvarado, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Antonio Javier Alvarez, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Telmo Alvear, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Cesar A. Alviar, 60, Bloomfield, N.J.*
Tariq Amanullah, 40, Metuchen, N.J.*
Angelo Amaranto, 60, New York, N.Y.*
James Amato, 43, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.*
Joseph Amatuccio, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Charles Amoroso, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Kazuhiro Anai, 42, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Calixto Anaya, 35, Suffern, N.Y.*
Jorge Octavio Santos Anaya, 25, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Joseph Peter Anchundia, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Kermit Charles Anderson, 57, Green Brook, N.J.*
Yvette Anderson, 53, New York, N.Y.*
John Andreacchio, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Rourke Andrews, 34, Belle Harbor, N.Y.*
Jean A. Andrucki, 42, Hoboken, N.J.*
Siew-Nya Ang, 37, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Joseph Angelini, 38, Lindenhurst, N.Y.*
Joseph Angelini, 63, Lindenhurst, N.Y.*
Laura Angilletta, 23, New York, N.Y.
Doreen J. Angrisani, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Lorraine D. Antigua, 32, Middletown, N.J.*
Peter Paul Apollo, 26, Hoboken, N.J.*
Faustino Apostol, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Frank Thomas Aquilino, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Patrick Michael Aranyos, 26, New York, N.Y.*
David Gregory Arce, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Michael G. Arczynski, 45, Little Silver, N.J.*
Louis Arena, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Adam Arias, 37, Staten Island, N.Y.*
Michael J. Armstrong, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Jack Charles Aron, 52, Bergenfield, N.J.*
Joshua Aron, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Avery Aronow, 48, Mahwah, N.J.*
Japhet J. Aryee, 49, Spring Valley, N.Y.
Carl Asaro, 39, Middletown, N.Y.*
Michael A. Asciak, 47, Ridgefield, N.J.*
Michael Edward Asher, 53, Monroe, N.Y.*
Janice Ashley, 25, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Thomas J. Ashton, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Manuel O. Asitimbay, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Gregg Arthur Atlas, 45, Howells, N.Y.*
Gerald Atwood, 38, New York, N.Y.*
James Audiffred, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth W. Van Auken, 47, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Louis F. Aversano, Jr, 58, Manalapan, N.J.*
Ezra Aviles, 41, Commack, N.Y.*
Ayodeji Awe, 42, New York, N.Y
Samuel (Sandy) Ayala, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Arlene T. Babakitis, 47, Secaucus, N.J.*
Eustace (Rudy) Bacchus, 48, Metuchen, N.J.*
John James Badagliacca, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Jane Ellen Baeszler, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Robert J. Baierwalter, 44, Albertson, N.Y.*
Andrew J. Bailey, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Brett T. Bailey, 28, Bricktown, N.J.*
Tatyana Bakalinskaya, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Michael S. Baksh, 36, Englewood, N.J.*
Sharon Balkcom, 43, White Plains, N.Y.*
Michael Andrew Bane, 33, Yardley, Pa.*
Kathy Bantis, 44, Chicago, Ill.*
Gerard Jean Baptiste, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Walter Baran, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Gerard A. Barbara, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Paul V. Barbaro, 35, Holmdel, N.J.*
James W. Barbella, 53, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Ivan Kyrillos Fairbanks Barbosa, 30, Jersey City, N.J.*
Victor Daniel Barbosa, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Colleen Ann Barkow, 26, East Windsor, N.J.*
David Michael Barkway, 34, Toronto, Ontario, Canada*
Matthew Barnes, 37, Monroe, N.Y.*
Sheila Patricia Barnes, 55, Bay Shore, N.Y.*
Evan J. Baron, 38, Bridgewater, N.J.*
Renee Barrett-Arjune, 41, Irvington, N.J.
Arthur T. Barry, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Diane G. Barry, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Maurice Vincent Barry, 49, Rutherford, N.J.*
Scott D. Bart, 28, Malverne, N.Y.*
Carlton W. Bartels, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Guy Barzvi, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Inna Basina, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Alysia Basmajian, 23, Bayonne, N.J.*
Kenneth William Basnicki, 48, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada*
Lt. Steven J. Bates, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Paul James Battaglia, 22, New York, N.Y.*
W. David Bauer, 45, Rumson, N.J.
Ivhan Luis Carpio Bautista, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Marlyn C. Bautista, 46, Iselin, N.J.*
Jasper Baxter, 45, Philadelphia, Pa.*
Michele (Du Berry) Beale, 37, Essex, Britain*
Paul F. Beatini, 40, Park Ridge, N.J.*
Jane S. Beatty, 53, Belford, N.J.*
Larry I. Beck, 38, Baldwin, N.Y.*
Manette Marie Beckles, 43, Rahway, N.J.*
Carl John Bedigian, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Beekman, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Maria Behr, 41, Milford, N.J.
Yelena Belilovsky, 38, Mamaroneck, N.Y.*
Nina Patrice Bell, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Andrea Della Bella, 59, Jersey City, N.J.*
Debbie S. Bellows, 30, East Windsor, N.J.*
Stephen Elliot Belson, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Paul Michael Benedetti, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Denise Lenore Benedetto, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Bryan Craig Bennett, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Oliver Duncan Bennett, 29, London, England*
Eric L. Bennett, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Margaret L. Benson, 52, Rockaway, N.J.*
Dominick J. Berardi, 25, New York, N.Y.
James Patrick Berger, 44, Lower Makefield, Pa.*
Steven Howard Berger, 45, Manalapan, N.J.*
John P. Bergin, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Alvin Bergsohn, 48, Baldwin Harbor, N.Y.*
Daniel D. Bergstein, 38, Teaneck, N.J.*
Michael J. Berkeley, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Donna Bernaerts-Kearns, 44, Hoboken, N.J.*
David W. Bernard, 57, Chelmsford, Mass.*
William Bernstein, 44, New York, N.Y.*
David M. Berray, 39, New York, N.Y.*
David S. Berry, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph J. Berry, 55, Saddle River, N.J.*
William Reed Bethke, 36, Hamilton, N.J.*
Timothy D. Betterly, 42, Little Silver, N.J.*
Edward F. Beyea, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Paul Michael Beyer, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Anil T. Bharvaney, 41, East Windsor, N.J.*
Bella Bhukhan, 24, Union, N.J.*
Shimmy D. Biegeleisen, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Peter Alexander Bielfeld, 44, New York, N.Y.*
William Biggart, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Brian Bilcher, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Carl Vincent Bini, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Gary Bird, 51, Tempe, Ariz.*
Joshua David Birnbaum, 24, New York, N.Y.*
George Bishop, 52, Granite Springs, N.Y.*
Jeffrey D. Bittner, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Balewa Albert Blackman, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Joseph Blackwell, 42, Patterson, N.Y.*
Susan L. Blair, 35, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Harry Blanding, 38, Blakeslee, Pa.*
Janice L. Blaney, 55, Williston Park, N.Y.*
Craig Michael Blass, 27, Greenlawn, N.Y.*
Rita Blau, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Richard M. Blood, 38, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Michael A. Boccardi, 30, Bronxville, N.Y.
John Paul Bocchi, 38, New Vernon, N.J.*
Michael L. Bocchino, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Susan Mary Bochino, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Bruce Douglas (Chappy) Boehm, 49, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Mary Katherine Boffa, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Nicholas A. Bogdan, 34, Browns Mills, N.J.*
Darren C. Bohan, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Lawrence Francis Boisseau, 36, Freehold, N.J.*
Vincent M. Boland, 25, Ringwood, N.J.*
Alan Bondarenko, 53, Flemington, N.J.*
Andre Bonheur, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Colin Arthur Bonnett, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Frank Bonomo, 42, Port Jefferson, N.Y.*
Yvonne L. Bonomo, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Sean Booker, 35, Irvington, N.J.*
Sherry Ann Bordeaux, 38, Jersey City, N.J.*
Krystine C. Bordenabe, 33, Old Bridge, N.J.*
Martin Boryczewski, 29, Parsippany, N.J.*
Richard E. Bosco, 34, Suffern, N.Y.*
John Howard Boulton, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Francisco Bourdier, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas H. Bowden, 36, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Kimberly S. Bowers, 31, Islip, N.Y.*
Veronique (Bonnie) Nicole Bowers, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Larry Bowman, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Shawn Edward Bowman, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin L. Bowser, 45, Philadelphia, Pa.*
Gary R. Box, 37, North Bellmore, N.Y.*
Gennady Boyarsky, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Pamela Boyce, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Boyle, 37, Westbury, N.Y.*
Alfred Braca, 54, Leonardo, N.J.*
Sandra Conaty Brace, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin H. Bracken, 37, New York, N.Y.*
David Brian Brady, 41, Summit, N.J.*
Alexander Braginsky, 38, Stamford, Conn.*
Nicholas W. Brandemarti, 21, Mantua, N.J.*
Michelle Renee Bratton, 23, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Patrice Braut, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Lydia Estelle Bravo, 50, Dunellen, N.J.*
Ronald Michael Breitweiser, 39, Middletown Township, N.J.*
Edward A. Brennan, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Frank H. Brennan, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Emmett Brennan, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Peter Brennan, 30, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.*
Thomas M. Brennan, 32, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Capt. Daniel Brethel, 43, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
Gary L. Bright, 36, Union City, N.J.*
Jonathan Eric Briley, 43, Mount Vernon, N.Y.*
Mark A. Brisman, 34, Armonk, N.Y.*
Paul Gary Bristow, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Victoria Alvarez Brito, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Mark Francis Broderick, 42, Old Bridge, N.J.*
Herman C. Broghammer, 58, North Merrick, N.Y.*
Keith Broomfield, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Janice J. Brown, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Lloyd Brown, 28, Bronxville, N.Y.*
Capt. Patrick J. Brown, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Bettina Browne, 49, Atlantic Beach, N.Y.*
Mark Bruce, 40, Summit, N.J.*
Richard Bruehert, 38, Westbury, N.Y.*
Andrew Brunn, 28*
Capt. Vincent Brunton, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Ronald Paul Bucca, 47, Tuckahoe, N.Y.*
Brandon J. Buchanan, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Greg Joseph Buck, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis Buckley, 38, Chatham, N.J.*
Nancy Bueche, 43, Hicksville, N.Y.*
Patrick Joseph Buhse, 36, Lincroft, N.J.*
John E. Bulaga, 35, Paterson, N.J.*
Stephen Bunin, 45, New York, N.Y.
Thomas Daniel Burke, 38, Bedford Hills, N.Y.*
Capt. William F. Burke, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew J. Burke, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Donald James Burns, 61, Nissequogue, N.Y.*
Kathleen A. Burns, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Keith James Burns, 39, East Rutherford, N.J.*
John Patrick Burnside, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Irina Buslo, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Milton Bustillo, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas M. Butler, 37, Kings Park, N.Y.*
Patrick Byrne, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Timothy G. Byrne, 36, Manhattan, N.Y.*
Jesus Cabezas, 66, New York, N.Y.*
Lillian Caceres, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Brian Joseph Cachia, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Cafiero, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Richard M. Caggiano, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Cecile M. Caguicla, 55, Boonton, N.J.*
Michael John Cahill, 37, East Williston, N.Y.*
Scott W. Cahill, 30, West Caldwell, N.J.*
Thomas J. Cahill, 36, Franklin Lakes, N.J.*
George Cain, 35, Massapequa, N.Y.*
Salvatore B. Calabro, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Calandrillo, 49, Hawley, Pa.*
Philip V. Calcagno, 57, New York, N.Y.
Edward Calderon, 44, Jersey City, N.J.*
Kenneth Marcus Caldwell, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Dominick E. Calia, 40, Manalapan, N.J.*
Felix (Bobby) Calixte, 38, New York, N.Y.
Capt. Frank Callahan, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Liam Callahan, 44, Rockaway, N.J.*
Luigi Calvi, 34, East Rutherford, N.J.*
Roko Camaj, 60, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Michael Cammarata, 22, Huguenot, N.Y.*
David Otey Campbell, 51, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Geoffrey Thomas Campbell, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Sandra Patricia Campbell, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Jill Marie Campbell, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Arthur Campbell, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Juan Ortega Campos, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Sean Canavan, 39, New York, N.Y.*
John A. Candela, 42, Glen Ridge, N.J.*
Vincent Cangelosi, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen J. Cangialosi, 40, Middletown, N.J.*
Lisa B. Cannava, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Brian Cannizzaro, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Michael R. Canty, 30, Schenectady, N.Y.*
Louis A. Caporicci, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Jonathan N. Cappello, 23, Garden City, N.Y.*
James Christopher Cappers, 33, Wading River, N.Y.*
Richard M. Caproni, 34, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
Jose Cardona, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis M Carey, 51, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Edward Carlino, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Scott Carlo, 34, New York, N.Y.*
David G. Carlone, 46, Randolph, N.J.*
Rosemarie C. Carlson, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Mark Stephen Carney, 41, Rahway, N.J.
Joyce Ann Carpeneto, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Alicia Acevedo Carranza, Teziutlan, Puebla, Mexico
Jeremy M. Carrington, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Michael T. Carroll, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Peter Carroll, 42, New York, N.Y.*
James J. Carson, 32, Massapequa, N.Y.*
James Marcel Cartier, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Vivian Casalduc, 45, New York, N.Y.*
John F. Casazza, 38, Colts Neck, N.J.*
Paul Cascio, 23, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Kathleen Hunt Casey, 43, Middletown, N.J.*
Margarito Casillas, 54, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Thomas Anthony Casoria, 29, New York, N.Y.*
William Otto Caspar, 57, Eatontown, N.J.*
Alejandro Castano, 35, Englewood, N.J.*
Arcelia Castillo, 49, Elizabeth, N.J.*
Leonard M. Castrianno, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Jose Ramon Castro, 37, New York, N.Y.
Richard G. Catarelli, 47, New York, N.Y.
Christopher Sean Caton, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Robert J. Caufield, 48, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Mary Teresa Caulfield, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Judson Cavalier, 26, Huntington, N.Y.*
Michael Joseph Cawley, 32, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Jason D. Cayne, 32, Morganville, N.J.*
Juan Armando Ceballos, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Marcia G. Cecil-Carter, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Jason Cefalu, 30, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Thomas J. Celic, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Ana M. Centeno, 38, Bayonne, N.J.*
Joni Cesta, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Jeffrey M. Chairnoff, 35, West Windsor, N.J.*
Swarna Chalasani, 33, Jersey City, N.J.*
William Chalcoff, 41, Roslyn, N.Y.*
Eli Chalouh, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Lawrence (Chip) Chan, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Mandy Chang, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Mark L. Charette, 38, Millburn, N.J.*
Gregorio Manuel Chavez, 48, New York, N.Y.
Jayceryll M. de Chavez, 24, Carteret, N.J.*
Pedro Francisco Checo, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas MacMillan Cherry, 38, Maplewood, N.J.*
Stephen Patrick Cherry, 41, Stamford, Conn.*
Vernon Paul Cherry, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Nestor Chevalier, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Swede Joseph Chevalier, 26, Locust, N.J.*
Alexander H. Chiang, 51, New City, N.Y.*
Dorothy J. Chiarchiaro, 61, Glenwood, N.J.*
Luis Alfonso Chimbo, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Chin, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Wing Wai (Eddie) Ching, 29, Union, N.J.*
Nicholas P. Chiofalo, 39, Selden, N.Y.*
John Chipura, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Peter A. Chirchirillo, 47, Langhorne, Pa.*
Catherine E. Chirls, 47, Princeton, N.J.*
Kyung (Kaccy) Cho, 30, Clifton, N.J.*
Abul K. Chowdhury, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Mohammed Salahuddin Chowdhury, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Kirsten L. Christophe, 39, Maplewood, N.J.*
Pamela Chu, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Paul Chucknick, 44, Cliffwood Beach, N.J.*
Wai-ching Chung, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Ciafardini, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Alex F. Ciccone, 38, New Rochelle, N.Y.*
Frances Ann Cilente, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Elaine Cillo, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Edna Cintron, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Nestor Andre Cintron, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Robert Dominick Cirri, 39, Nutley, N.J.*
Juan Pablo Alvarez Cisneros, 23, Weehawken, N.J.*
Gregory Alan Clark, 40, Teaneck, N.J.*
Mannie Leroy Clark, 54, New York, N.Y.
Thomas R. Clark, 37, Summit, N.J.*
Eugene Clark, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Benjamin Keefe Clark, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Robert Clarke, 34, Philadelphia, Pa.*
Donna Clarke, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Clarke, 27, Prince's Bay, N.Y.*
Suria R.E. Clarke, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin Francis Cleary, 38, New York, N.Y.*
James D. Cleere, 55, Newton, Iowa*
Geoffrey W. Cloud, 36, Stamford, Conn.*
Susan M. Clyne, 42, Lindenhurst, N.Y.*
Steven Coakley, 36, Deer Park, N.Y.*
Jeffrey Coale, 31, Souderton, Pa.*
Patricia A. Cody, 46, Brigantine, N.J.*
Daniel Michael Coffey, 54, Newburgh, N.Y.*
Jason Matthew Coffey, 25, Newburgh, N.Y.*
Florence Cohen, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin Sanford Cohen, 28, Edison, N.J.*
Anthony Joseph Coladonato, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Mark J. Colaio, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen J. Colaio, 32, Montauk, N.Y.*
Christopher M. Colasanti, 33, Hoboken, N.J.*
Michel Paris Colbert, 39, West New York, N.J.*
Kevin Nathaniel Colbert, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Keith Eugene Coleman, 34, Warren, N.J.*
Scott Thomas Coleman, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Tarel Coleman, 32*
Liam Joseph Colhoun, 34, Flushing,, N.Y.*
Robert D. Colin, 49, West Babylon, N.Y.*
Robert J. Coll, 35, Glen Ridge, N.J.*
Jean Marie Collin, 42, New York, N.Y.*
John Michael Collins, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Michael L. Collins, 38, Montclair, N.J.*
Thomas J. Collins, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Collison, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Patricia Malia Colodner, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Linda M. Colon, 46, Perrineville, N.J.*
Soledi Colon, 39, New York, N.Y.
Ronald Comer, 56, Northport, N.Y.*
Jaime Concepcion, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Albert Conde, 62, Englishtown, N.J.*
Denease Conley, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Susan Clancy Conlon, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Margaret Mary Conner, 57, New York, N.Y.*
John E. Connolly, 46, Allenwood, N.J.*
Cynthia L. Connolly, 40, Metuchen, N.J.*
James Lee Connor, 38, Summit, N.J.*
Jonathan (J.C.) Connors, 55, Old Brookville, N.Y.
Kevin P. Connors, 55, Greenwich, Conn.*
Kevin Francis Conroy, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Brenda E. Conway, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis Michael Cook, 33, Colts Neck, N.J.*
Helen D. Cook, 24, New York, N.Y.*
John A. Cooper, 40, Bayonne, N.J.*
Joseph J. Coppo, 47, New Canaan, Conn.*
Gerard J. Coppola, 46, New Providence, N.J.*
Joseph Albert Corbett, 28, Islip, N.Y.*
Alejandro Cordero, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Cordice, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Ruben D. Correa, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Danny A. Correa-Gutierrez, 25, Fairview, N.J.*
James Corrigan, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Carlos Cortes, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin M. Cosgrove, 46, West Islip, N.Y.*
Dolores Marie Costa, 53, Middletown, N.J.*
Digna Alexandra Rivera Costanza, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Gregory Costello, 46, Old Bridge, N.J.*
Michael S. Costello, 27, Hoboken, N.J.*
Conrod K.H. Cottoy, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Martin Coughlan, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Sgt. John Gerard Coughlin, 43, Pomona, N.Y.*
Timothy John Coughlin, 42, New York, N.Y.*
James E. Cove, 48, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Andre Cox, 29, New York, N.Y.
Frederick John Cox, 27, New York, N.Y.*
James Raymond Coyle, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Michelle Coyle-Eulau, 38, Garden City, N.Y.*
Anne M. Cramer, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Seton Cramer, 34, Manahawkin, N.J.*
Denise Crant, 46, Hackensack, N.J.*
Robert James Crawford, 62, New York, N.Y.*
James L. Crawford, 33, Madison, N.J.*
Joanne Mary Cregan, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Lucia Crifasi, 51, Glendale, N.Y.*
Lt. John Crisci, 48, Holbrook, N.Y.*
Daniel Hal Crisman, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis A. Cross, 60, Islip Terrace, N.Y.*
Helen Crossin-Kittle, 34, Larchmont, N.Y.*
Kevin Raymond Crotty, 43, Summit, N.J.
Thomas G. Crotty, 42, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
John Crowe, 57, Rutherford, N.J.*
Welles Remy Crowther, 24, Upper Nyack, N.Y.*
Robert L. Cruikshank, 64, New York, N.Y.
Francisco Cruz, 47, New York, N.Y.*
John Robert Cruz, 32, Jersey City, N.J.*
Kenneth John Cubas, 48, Woodstock, N.Y.*
Richard Joseph Cudina, 46, Glen Gardner, N.J.*
Neil James Cudmore, 38, Port Washington, N.Y.*
Thomas Patrick Cullen, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Joan McConnell Cullinan, 47, Scarsdale, N.Y.*
Joyce Cummings, 65*
Brian Thomas Cummins, 38, Manasquan, N.J.*
Nilton Albuquerque Fernao Cunha, 41
Michael Joseph Cunningham, 39, Princeton Junction, N.J.*
Robert Curatolo, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Laurence Curia, 41, Garden City, N.Y.*
Paul Dario Curioli, 53, Norwalk, Conn.*
Beverly Curry, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Sgt. Michael Curtin, 45, Medford, N.Y.*
Gavin Cushny, 47, Hoboken, N.J.*
Caleb Arron Dack, 39, Montclair, N.J.*
Carlos S. DaCosta, 41, Elizabeth, N.J.*
John D'Allara, 47, Pearl River, N.Y.*
Vincent D'Amadeo, 36, East Patchoque, N.Y.*
Thomas A. Damaskinos, 33, Matawan, N.J.*
Jack L. D'Ambrosi, 45, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.
Jeannine Marie Damiani-Jones, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Patrick W. Danahy, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.*
Nana Kwuku Danso, 47, New York, N.Y.
Mary D'Antonio, 55, New York, N.Y.
Vincent G. Danz, 38, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
Dwight Donald Darcy, 55, Bronxville, N.Y.*
Elizabeth Ann Darling, 28, Newark, N.J.*
Annette Andrea Dataram, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Edward Alexander D'Atri, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Michael D. D'Auria, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Lawrence Davidson, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Allen Davidson, 27, Westfield, N.J.*
Scott Matthew Davidson, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Titus Davidson, 55, New York, N.Y.
Niurka Davila, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Clinton Davis, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Wayne Terrial Davis, 29, Fort Meade, Md.*
Calvin Dawson, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony Richard Dawson, 32, Southampton, Hampshire, England*
Edward James Day, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Emerita (Emy) De La Pena, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Melanie Louise De Vere, 30, London, England*
William T. Dean, 35, Floral Park, N.Y.*
Robert J. DeAngelis, 48, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Thomas P. Deangelis, 51, Westbury, N.Y.*
Tara Debek, 35, Babylon, N.Y.*
Anna Debin, 30, East Farmingdale, N.Y.*
James V. DeBlase, 45, Manalapan, N.J.*
Paul DeCola, 39, Ridgewood, N.Y.*
Simon Dedvukaj, 26, Mohegan Lake, N.Y.*
Jason Christopher DeFazio, 29, New York, N.Y.*
David A. Defeo, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Jennifer DeJesus, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Monique E. DeJesus, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Nereida DeJesus, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Donald A. Delapenha, 37, Allendale, N.J.*
Vito Joseph Deleo, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Danielle Delie, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Colleen Ann Deloughery, 41, Bayonne, N.J.*
Francis (Frank) Albert DeMartini, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony Demas, 61, New York, N.Y.*
Martin DeMeo, 47, Farmingville, N.Y.*
Francis X. Deming, 47, Franklin Lakes, N.J.*
Carol K. Demitz, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin Dennis, 43, Peapack, N.J.
Thomas F. Dennis, 43, Setauket, N.Y.*
Jean C. DePalma, 42, Newfoundland, N.J.*
Jose Nicolas Depena, 42, New York, N.Y.
Robert J. Deraney, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Michael DeRienzo, 37, Hoboken, N.J.*
David Paul Derubbio, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Jemal Legesse DeSantis, 28, Jersey City, N.J.*
Christian L. DeSimone, 23, Ringwood, N.J.*
Edward DeSimone, 36, Atlantic Highlands, N.J.*
Lt. Andrew Desperito, 44, Patchogue, N.Y.*
Michael Jude D'Esposito, 32, Morganville, N.J.*
Cindy Ann Deuel, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Jerry DeVito, 66, New York, N.Y.*
Robert P. Devitt, 36, Plainsboro, N.J.*
Dennis Lawrence Devlin, 51, Washingtonville, N.Y.*
Gerard Dewan, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Simon Suleman Ali Kassamali Dhanani, 62, Hartsdale, N.Y.*
Michael L. DiAgostino, 41, Garden City, N.Y.*
Matthew Diaz, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Nancy Diaz, 28, New York, N.Y.
Obdulio Ruiz Diaz, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Lourdes Galletti Diaz, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Diaz-Piedra, 49*
Judith Belguese Diaz-Sierra, 32, Bay Shore, N.Y.*
Patricia F. DiChiaro, 63, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Dermot Dickey, 50, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Lawrence Patrick Dickinson, 35, Morganville, N.J.*
Michael David Diehl, 48, Brick, N.J.*
John DiFato, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Vincent F. DiFazio, 43, Hampton, N.J.*
Carl DiFranco, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Donald J. DiFranco, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Debra Ann DiMartino, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen P. Dimino, 48, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
William J. Dimmling, 47, Garden City, N.Y.*
Christopher Dincuff, 31, Jersey City, N.J.*
Jeffrey M. Dingle, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony DiOnisio, 38, Glen Rock, N.J.*
George DiPasquale, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph DiPilato, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas Frank DiStefano, 24, Hoboken, N.J.*
Ramzi A. Doany, 35, Bayonne, N.J., Jordanian*
John J. Doherty, 58, Hartsdale, N.Y.*
Melissa C. Doi, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Brendan Dolan, 37, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Neil Dollard, 28, Hoboken, N.J.*
James Joseph Domanico, 56, New York, N.Y.*
Benilda Pascua Domingo, 37, New York, N.Y.
Charles (Carlos) Dominguez, 34, East Meadow, N.Y.*
Geronimo (Jerome) Mark Patrick Dominguez, 37, Holtsville, N.Y.*
Lt. Kevin W. Donnelly, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Jacqueline Donovan, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen Dorf, 39, New Milford, N.J.*
Thomas Dowd, 37, Monroe, N.Y.*
Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Mary Yolanda Dowling, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Raymond M. Downey, 63, Deer Park, N.Y.*
Joseph M. Doyle, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Frank Joseph Doyle, 39, Englewood, N.J.*
Randy Drake, 37, Lee's Summit, Mo.*
Stephen Patrick Driscoll, 38, Lake Carmel, N.Y.*
Mirna A. Duarte, 31, New York, N.Y.
Luke A. Dudek, 50, Livingston, N.J.*
Christopher Michael Duffy, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Gerard Duffy, 53, Manorville, N.Y.*
Michael Joseph Duffy, 29, Northport, N.Y.*
Thomas W. Duffy, 52, Pittsford, N.Y.
Antoinette Duger, 44, Belleville, N.J.*
Jackie Sayegh Duggan, 34*
Sareve Dukat, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Joseph Dunne, 28, Mineola, N.Y.
Richard A. Dunstan, 54, New Providence, N.J.*
Patrick Thomas Dwyer, 37, Nissequogue, N.Y.*
Joseph Anthony Eacobacci, 26, New York, N.Y.*
John Bruce Eagleson, 53, Middlefield, Conn.*
Robert D. Eaton, 37, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Dean P. Eberling, 44, Cranford, N.J.*
Margaret Ruth Echtermann, 33, Hoboken, N.J.*
Paul Robert Eckna, 28, West New York, N.J.
Constantine (Gus) Economos, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis Michael Edwards, 35, Huntington, N.Y.*
Michael Hardy Edwards, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Lisa Egan, 31, Cliffside Park, N.J.*
Capt. Martin Egan, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Egan, 51, Middletown, N.J.*
Christine Egan, 55, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada*
Samantha Egan, 24, Jersey City, N.J.*
Carole Eggert, 60, New York, N.Y.
Lisa Caren Weinstein Ehrlich, 36, New York, N.Y.*
John Ernst (Jack) Eichler, 69, Cedar Grove, N.J.*
Eric Adam Eisenberg, 32, Commack, N.Y.*
Daphne F. Elder, 36, Newark, N.J.*
Michael J. Elferis, 27, College Point, N.Y.*
Mark J. Ellis, 26, South Huntington, N.Y.*
Valerie Silver Ellis, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Albert Alfy William Elmarry, 30, North Brunswick, N.J.*
Edgar H. Emery, 45, Clifton, N.J.*
Doris Suk-Yuen Eng, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher S. Epps, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Ulf Ramm Ericson, 79, Greenwich, Conn.*
Erwin L. Erker, 41, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
William J. Erwin, 30, Verona, N.J.*
Sarah (Ali) Escarcega, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Jose Espinal, 31
Fanny M. Espinoza, 29, Teaneck, N.J.*
Francis Esposito, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Michael Esposito, 41, New York, N.Y.*
William Esposito, 51, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Brigette Ann Esposito, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Ruben Esquilin, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Sadie Ette, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Barbara G. Etzold, 43, Jersey City, N.J.*
Eric Brian Evans, 31, Weehawken, N.J.*
Robert Edward Evans, 36, Franklin Square, N.Y.*
Meredith Emily June Ewart, 29, Hoboken, N.J.*
Catherine K. Fagan, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Patricia M. Fagan, 55, Toms River, N.J.*
Keith G. Fairben, 24, Floral Park, N.Y.*
William Fallon, 38, Coram, N.Y.*
William F. Fallon, 53, Rocky Hill, N.J.*
Anthony J. Fallone, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Dolores B. Fanelli, 38, Farmingville, N.Y.*
John Joseph Fanning, 54, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Kathleen (Kit) Faragher, 33, Denver, Colo.*
Capt. Thomas Farino, 37, Bohemia, N.Y.*
Nancy Carole Farley, 45, Jersey City, N.J.*
Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Farmer, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas Farnum, 33, New York, N.Y.*
John W. Farrell, 41, Basking Ridge, N.J.
Terrence Patrick Farrell, 45, Huntington, N.Y.*
John G. Farrell, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Capt. Joseph Farrelly, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas P. Farrelly, 54, East Northport, N.Y.*
Syed Abdul Fatha, 54, Newark, N.J.*
Christopher Faughnan, 37, South Orange, N.J.*
Wendy R. Faulkner, 47, Mason, Ohio*
Shannon M. Fava, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Bernard D. Favuzza, 52, Suffern, N.Y.*
Robert Fazio, 41, Freeport, N.Y.*
Ronald C. Fazio, 57, Closter, N.J.*
William Feehan, 72, New York, N.Y.*
Francis J. (Frank) Feely, 41, Middletown, N.Y.*
Garth E. Feeney, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Sean B. Fegan, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Lee S. Fehling, 28, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Peter Feidelberg, 34, Hoboken, N.J.*
Alan D. Feinberg, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Rosa Maria Feliciano, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Edward T. Fergus, 40, Wilton, Conn.
George Ferguson, 54, Teaneck, N.J.
Henry Fernandez, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Judy H. Fernandez, 27, Parlin, N.J.*
Jose Manuel Contreras Fernandez, El Aguacate, Jalisco, Mexico
Elisa Giselle Ferraina, 27, London, England*
Anne Marie Sallerin Ferreira, 29, Jersey City, N.J.*
Robert John Ferris, 63, Garden City, N.Y.*
David Francis Ferrugio, 46, Middletown, N.J.
Louis V. Fersini, 38, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Michael David Ferugio, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Bradley James Fetchet, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Jennifer Louise Fialko, 29, Teaneck, N.J.*
Kristen Fiedel, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Samuel Fields, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Bradley Finnegan, 37, Basking Ridge, N.J.
Timothy J. Finnerty, 33, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Michael Curtis Fiore, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen J. Fiorelli, 43, Aberdeen, N.J.*
Paul M. Fiori, 31, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.*
John Fiorito, 40, Stamford, Conn.*
Lt. John R. Fischer, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Andrew Fisher, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas J. Fisher, 36, Union, N.J.*
Bennett Lawson Fisher, 58, Stamford, Conn.
John Roger Fisher, 46, Bayonne, N.J.*
Lucy Fishman, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Ryan D. Fitzgerald, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Fitzpatrick, 35, Tuckahoe, N.Y.*
Richard P. Fitzsimons, 57, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
Salvatore A. Fiumefreddo, 47, Manalapan, N.J.*
Christina Donovan Flannery, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Eileen Flecha, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Andre G. Fletcher, 37, North Babylon, N.Y.*
Carl Flickinger, 38, Conyers, N.Y.*
John Joseph Florio, 33, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Joseph W. Flounders, 46, East Stroudsburg, Pa.*
David Fodor, 38, Garrison, N.Y.*
Lt. Michael N. Fodor, 53, Warwick, N.Y.*
Steven Mark Fogel, 40, Westfield, N.Y.*
Thomas Foley, 32, West Nyack, N.Y.*
David Fontana, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Chih Min (Dennis) Foo, 40, Holmdel, N.J.*
Del Rose Forbes-Cheatham, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Godwin Forde, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Donald A. Foreman, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Hugh Forsythe, 44, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Claudia Alicia Martinez Foster, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Noel J. Foster, 40, Bridgewater, N.J.*
Ana Fosteris, 58, Coram, N.Y.*
Robert J. Foti, 42, Albertson, N.Y.*
Jeffrey L. Fox, 40, Cranbury, N.J.*
Virginia Fox, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Virgin (Lucy) Francis, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Pauline Francis, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Joan Francis
Gary J. Frank, 35, South Amboy, N.J.*
Morton Frank, 31, New York, N.Y.
Peter Christopher Frank, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Richard K. Fraser, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin Joseph Frawley, 34, Bronxville, N.Y.*
Clyde Frazier, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Lillian I. Frederick, 46, Teaneck, N.J.*
Andrew Fredericks, 40, Suffern, N.Y.*
Tamitha Freemen, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Brett O. Freiman, 29, Roslyn, N.Y.*
Lt. Peter L. Freund, 45, Westtown, N.Y.*
Arlene E. Fried, 49, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.*
Alan Wayne Friedlander, 52, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.*
Andrew K. Friedman, 44, Woodbury, N.Y.*
Gregg J. Froehner, 46, Chester, N.J.*
Peter Christian Fry, 36, Wilton, Conn.*
Clement Fumando, 59, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Elliot Furman, 40, Wesley Hills, N.Y.*
Paul James Furmato, 37, Colts Neck, N.J.*
Fredric Gabler, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Richard S. Gabrielle, 50, West Haven, Conn.*
James Andrew Gadiel, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Pamela Gaff, 51, Robinsville, N.J.
Ervin Vincent Gailliard, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Deanna L. Galante, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Grace Galante, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony Edward Gallagher, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel James Gallagher, 23, Red Bank, N.J.*
John Patrick Gallagher, 31, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Cono E. Gallo, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Vincenzo Gallucci, 36, Monroe Township, N.J.*
Thomas Edward Galvin, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Giovanna (Genni) Gambale, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Gambino, 48, Babylon, N.Y.*
Giann F. Gamboa, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Peter J. Ganci, 55, North Massapequa, N.Y.*
Claude Michael Gann, 41, Roswell, Ga.*
Lt. Charles William Garbarini, 44, Pleasantville, N.Y.*
Cesar Garcia, 36, New York, N.Y.*
David Garcia, 40, Freeport, N.Y.*
Jorge Luis Morron Garcia, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Juan Garcia, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Marlyn C. Garcia, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Gardner, 36, Darien, Conn.*
Douglas B. Gardner, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Harvey J. Gardner, 35, Lakewood, N.J.*
Thomas A. Gardner, 39, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Jeffrey B. Gardner, 36, Hoboken, N.J.*
William Arthur Gardner, 45, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
Francesco Garfi, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Rocco Gargano, 28, Bayside, N.Y.*
James M. Gartenberg, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew David Garvey, 37*
Bruce Gary, 51, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Palmina Delli Gatti, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Boyd A. Gatton, 38, Jersey City, N.J.*
Donald Richard Gavagan, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Terence D. Gazzani, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Gary Geidel, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Paul Hamilton Geier, 36, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
Julie M. Geis, 44, Lees Summit, Mo.*
Peter Gelinas, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Paul Geller, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Howard G. Gelling, 28, New York, N.Y.
Peter Victor Genco, 36, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Steven Gregory Genovese, 37, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Alayne F. Gentul, 44, Mountain Lakes, N.J.*
Edward F. Geraghty, 45, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Suzanne Geraty, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Ralph Gerhardt, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Robert J. Gerlich, 56, Monroe, Conn.*
Denis P. Germain, 33, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.*
Marina R. Gertsberg, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Susan M. Getzendanner, 57, New York, N.Y.*
James Gerard Geyer, 41, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Joseph M. Giaccone, 43, Monroe, N.J.*
Lt. Vincent Francis Giammona, 40, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Debra L. Gibbon, 43, Hackettstown, N.J.*
James A. Giberson, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Craig Neil Gibson, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Ronnie Gies, 43, Merrick, N.Y.*
Laura A. Giglio, 35, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Andrew Clive Gilbert, 39, Califon, N.J.
Timothy Paul Gilbert, 35, Lebanon, N.J.
Paul Stuart Gilbey, 39, Chatham, N.J.*
Paul John Gill, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Mark Y. Gilles, 33, New York, N.Y.
Evan H. Gillette, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Ronald Gilligan, 43, Norwalk, Conn.*
Sgt. Rodney C. Gillis, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Laura Gilly, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. John F. Ginley, 37, Warwick, N.Y.*
Jeffrey Giordano, 46, New York, N.Y.*
John Giordano, 46, Newburgh, N.Y.*
Donna Marie Giordano, 44, Parlin, N.J.*
Steven A. Giorgetti, 43, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Martin Giovinazzo, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Kum-Kum Girolamo, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Salvatore Gitto, 44, Manalapan, N.J.*
Cynthia Giugliano, 46, Nesconset, N.Y.*
Mon Gjonbalaj, 65, New York, N.Y.*
Dianne Gladstone, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Keith Alexander Glascoe, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas I. Glasser, 40, Summit, N.J.*
Harry Glenn, 38, Piscataway, N.J.*
Barry H. Glick, 55, Wayne, N.J.*
Steven Lawrence Glick, 42, Greenwich, Conn.*
John T. Gnazzo, 32, New York, N.Y.*
William (Bill) Robert Godshalk, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Gogliormella, 43, New Providence, N.J.*
Brian Fredric Goldberg, 26, Union, N.J.*
Jeffrey Grant Goldflam, 48, Melville, N.Y.*
Michelle Herman Goldstein, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Monica Goldstein, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Goldstein, 35, Princeton, N.J.*
Andrew H. Golkin, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis James Gomes, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Enrique Antonio Gomez, 42, New York, N.Y.
Jose Bienvenido Gomez, 45, New York, N.Y.
Manuel Gomez, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Wilder Gomez, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Jenine Gonzalez, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Joel Guevara Gonzalez, 23, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Rosa J. Gonzalez, 32, Jersey City, N.J.*
Mauricio Gonzalez, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Calvin J. Gooding, 38, Riverside, N.Y.*
Harry Goody, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Kiran Reddy Gopu, 24, Bridgeport, Conn.*
Catherine Carmen Gorayeb, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Kerene Gordon, 43, New York, N.Y.
Sebastian Gorki, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas E. Gorman, 41, Middlesex, N.J.*
Kieran Gorman, 35, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Michael Edward Gould, 29, Hoboken, N.J.*
Yugi Goya, 42, Rye, N.Y.*
Jon Richard Grabowski, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Michael Grady, 39, Cranford, N.J.*
Edwin John Graf, 48, Rowayton, Conn.*
David M. Graifman, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Gilbert Granados, 51, Hicksville, N.Y.*
Elvira Granitto, 43, New York, N.Y.
Winston Arthur Grant, 59, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Christopher Stewart Gray, 32, Weehawken, N.J.*
James Michael Gray, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Linda Mair Grayling, 44, New York, N.Y.*
John Michael Grazioso, 41, Middletown, N.J.*
Timothy Grazioso, 42, Gulf Stream, Fla.*
Derrick Arthur Green, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Wade Brian Green, 42, Westbury, N.Y.*
Elaine Myra Greenberg, 56, New York, N.Y.*
Gayle R. Greene, 51, Montville, N.J.*
James Arthur Greenleaf, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Eileen Marsha Greenstein, 52, Morris Plains, N.J.*
Elizabeth (Lisa) Martin Gregg, 52, New York, N.Y.
Donald H. Gregory, 62, Ramsey, N.J.*
Florence M. Gregory, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Denise Gregory, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Pedro (David) Grehan, 35, Hoboken, N.J.*
John M. Griffin, 38, Waldwick, N.J.*
Tawanna Griffin, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Joan D. Griffith, 39, Willingboro, N.J.*
Warren Grifka, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Ramon Grijalvo, 58*
Joseph F. Grillo, 46, New York, N.Y.*
David Grimner, 51, Merrick, N.Y.*
Kenneth Grouzalis, 56, Lyndhurst, N.J.*
Joseph Grzelak, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew J. Grzymalski, 34, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Robert Joseph Gschaar, 55, Spring Valley, N.Y.*
Liming (Michael) Gu, 34, Piscataway, N.J.*
Jose A. Guadalupe, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Yan Zhu (Cindy) Guan, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Geoffrey E. Guja, 47, Lindenhurst, N.Y.*
Lt. Joseph Gullickson, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Babita Guman, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas B. Gurian, 38, Tenafly, N.J.*
Philip T. Guza, 54, Sea Bright, N.J.*
Barbara Guzzardo, 49, Glendale, N.Y.*
Peter Gyulavary, 44, Warwick, N.Y.*
Gary Robert Haag, 36, Ossining, N.Y.*
Andrea Lyn Haberman, 25, Chicago, Ill.*
Barbara M. Habib, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Philip Haentzler, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Nizam A. Hafiz, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Karen Hagerty, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Hagis, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Mary Lou Hague, 26, New York, N.Y.*
David Halderman, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Maile Rachel Hale, 26, Cambridge, Mass.*
Richard Hall, 49, Purchase, N.Y.*
Vaswald George Hall, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Robert John Halligan, 59, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Lt. Vincent Gerard Halloran, 43, North Salem, N.Y.*
James D. Halvorson, 56, Greenwich, Conn.*
Mohammad Salman Hamdani, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Felicia Hamilton, 62, New York, N.Y.
Robert Hamilton, 43, Washingtonville, N.Y.*
Frederic Kim Han, 45, Marlboro, N.J.*
Christopher James Hanley, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Sean Hanley, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Valerie Joan Hanna, 57, Freeville, N.Y.*
Thomas Hannafin, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin James Hannaford, 32, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Michael L. Hannan, 34, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
Dana Hannon, 29, Suffern, N.Y.*
Vassilios G. Haramis, 56, New York, N.Y.*
James A. Haran, 41, Malverne, N.Y.*
Jeffrey P. Hardy, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Timothy John Hargrave, 38, Readington, N.J.*
Daniel Harlin, 41, Kent, N.Y.*
Frances Haros, 76, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Harvey L. Harrell, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Stephen Gary Harrell, 44, Warwick, N.Y.*
Stewart D. Harris, 52, Marlboro, N.J.*
Aisha Harris, 22, New York, N.Y.*
John Patrick Hart, 38, Danville, Calif.*
John Clinton Hartz, 64, Basking Ridge, N.J.
Emeric J. Harvey, 56, Montclair, N.J.*
Capt. Thomas Theodore Haskell, 37, Massapequa, N.Y.*
Timothy Haskell, 34, Seaford, N.Y.*
Joseph John Hasson, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Capt. Terence S. Hatton, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Leonard William Hatton, 45, Ridgefield Park, N.J.*
Michael Helmut Haub, 34, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.*
Timothy Aaron Haviland, 41, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Donald G. Havlish, 53, Yardley, Pa.*
Anthony Hawkins, 30, New York, N.Y.
Nobuhiro Hayatsu, 36, Scarsdale, N.Y.*
Philip Hayes, 67, Northport, N.Y.*
William Ward Haynes, 35, Rye, N.Y.*
Scott Hazelcorn, 29, Hoboken, N.J.*
Lt. Michael K. Healey, 42, East Patchogue, N.Y.*
Roberta Bernstein Heber, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Francis Xavier Heeran, 23, Belle Harbor, N.Y.*
John Heffernan, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Howard Joseph Heller, 37, Ridgefield, Conn.*
JoAnn L. Heltibridle, 46, Springfield, N.J.*
Mark F. Hemschoot, 45, Red Bank, N.J.*
Ronnie Lee Henderson, 52, Newburgh, N.Y.*
Janet Hendricks, 48, New York, N.Y.
Brian Hennessey, 35, Ringoes, N.J.
Michelle Marie Henrique, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph P. Henry, 25, New York, N.Y.*
William Henry, 49, New York, N.Y.*
John Henwood, 35, New York, N.Y.
Robert Allan Hepburn, 39, Union, N.J.*
Mary (Molly) Herencia, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Lindsay Coates Herkness, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Harvey Robert Hermer, 59, New York, N.Y.*
Claribel Hernandez, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Norberto Hernandez, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Raul Hernandez, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Gary Herold, 44, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
Jeffrey A. Hersch, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Hetzel, 33, Elmont, N.Y.*
Capt. Brian Hickey, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Ysidro Hidalgo-Tejada, 47, New York, N.Y., Dominican Republic*
Lt. Timothy Higgins, 43, Farmingville, N.Y.*
Robert D. Higley, 29, New Fairfield, Conn.*
Todd Russell Hill, 34, Boston, Mass.*
Clara Victorine Hinds, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Neal Hinds, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Mark D. Hindy, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Bruce Van Hine, 48, Greenwood Lake, N.Y.*
Katsuyuki Hirai, 32, Hartsdale, N.Y.
Heather Malia Ho, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Tara Yvette Hobbs, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas A. Hobbs, 41, Baldwin, N.Y.*
James L. Hobin, 47, Marlborough, Conn.*
Robert Wayne Hobson, 36, New Providence, N.J.*
DaJuan Hodges, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Ronald George Hoerner, 58, Massapequa Park, N.Y.*
Patrick Aloysius Hoey, 53, Middletown, N.J.*
Stephen G. Hoffman, 36, Long Beach, N.Y.*
Marcia Hoffman, 52, New York, N.Y.
Frederick J. Hoffmann, 53, Freehold, N.J.*
Michele L. Hoffmann, 27, Freehold, N.J.*
Judith Florence Hofmiller, 53, Brookfield, Conn.*
Thomas Warren Hohlweck, 57, Harrison, N.Y.*
Jonathan R. Hohmann, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Francis Holland, 32, Glen Rock, N.J.*
John Holland, 30
Elizabeth Holmes, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas P. Holohan, 36, Chester, N.Y.*
Bradley Hoorn, 22, New York, N.Y.*
James P. Hopper, 51, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
Montgomery McCullough Hord, 46, Pelham, N.Y.*
Michael Horn, 27, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
Matthew D. Horning, 26, Hoboken, N.J.*
Robert L. Horohoe, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Aaron Horwitz, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Charles J. Houston, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Uhuru G. Houston, 32, Englewood, N.J.*
George Howard, 45, Hicksville, N.Y.*
Steven L. Howell, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Michael C. Howell, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Jennifer L. Howley, 34, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Milagros "Millie" Hromada, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Marian Hrycak, 56, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen Huczko, 44, Bethlehem, N.J.*
Kris R. Hughes, 30, Nesconset, N.Y.*
Melissa Harrington Hughes, 31, San Francisco, Calif.*
Thomas F. Hughes, 46, Spring Lake Heights, N.J.*
Timothy Robert Hughes, 43, Madison, N.J.*
Paul R. Hughes, 38, Stamford, Conn.*
Robert T. "Bobby" Hughes, 23, Sayreville, N.J.*
Susan Huie, 43, Fair Lawn, N.J.*
Mychal Lamar Hulse, 30, New York, N.Y.*
William C. Hunt, 32, Norwalk, Conn.*
Joseph G. Hunter, 31, South Hempstead, N.Y.*
Robert Hussa, 51, Roslyn, N.Y.*
Capt. Walter Hynes, 46, Belle Harbor, N.Y.*
Thomas E. Hynes, 28, Norwalk, Conn.*
Joseph Anthony Ianelli, 28, Hoboken, N.J.*
Zuhtu Ibis, 25, Clifton, N.J.*
Jonathan Lee Ielpi, 29, Great Neck, N.Y.*
Michael Patrick Iken, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel Ilkanayev, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Capt. Frederick Ill, 49, Pearl River, N.Y.*
Abraham Nethanel Ilowitz, 51, New York, N.Y.
Anthony P. Infante, 47, Chatham, N.J.*
Louis S. Inghilterra, 45, New Castle, N.Y.*
Christopher N. Ingrassia, 28, Watchung, N.J.*
Paul Innella, 33, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Stephanie V. Irby, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas Irgang, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Todd A. Isaac, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Erik Hans Isbrandtsen, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Taizo Ishikawa, 50
Aram Iskenderian, 41, Merrick, N.Y.*
John Iskyan, 41, Wilton, Conn.*
Kazushige Ito, 35, New York, N.Y.
Aleksandr Valeryerich Ivantsov, 23, New York, N.Y.
Virginia Jablonski, 49, Matawan, N.J.*
Brooke Alexandra Jackman, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Aaron Jacobs, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Jason Kyle Jacobs, 32, Mendham, N.J.*
Michael Grady Jacobs, 54, Danbury, Conn.*
Ariel Louis Jacobs, 29, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.*
Steven A. Jacobson, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Ricknauth Jaggernauth, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Jake Denis Jagoda, 24, Huntington, N.Y.*
Yudh V.S. Jain, 54, New City, N.Y.*
Maria Jakubiak, 41, Ridgewood, N.Y.*
Gricelda E. James, 44, Willingboro, N.J.*
Ernest James, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Mark Jardim, 39, New York, N.Y.
Mohammed Jawara, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Francois Jean-Pierre, 58, New York, N.Y.
Maxima Jean-Pierre, 40, Bellport, N.Y.
Paul E. Jeffers, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Jenkins, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Alan K. Jensen, 49, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Prem N. Jerath, 57, Edison, N.J.*
Farah Jeudy, 32, Spring Valley, N.Y.*
Hweidar Jian, 42, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Eliezer Jimenez, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Luis Jimenez, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Gregory John, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Nicholas John, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Scott M. Johnson, 26, New York, N.Y.*
LaShawana Johnson, 27, New York, N.Y.*
William Johnston, 31, North Babylon, N.Y.*
Arthur Joseph Jones, 37, Ossining, N.Y.
Allison Horstmann Jones, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Brian L. Jones, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher D. Jones, 53, Huntington, N.Y.
Donald T. Jones, 39, Livingston, N.J.*
Donald W. Jones, 43, Fairless Hills, Pa.*
Linda Jones, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Mary S. Jones, 72, New York, N.Y.*
Andrew Jordan, 35, Remsenburg, N.Y.*
Robert Thomas Jordan, 34, Williston, N.Y.*
Ingeborg Joseph, 60, Germany
Karl Henri Joseph, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen Joseph, 39, Franklin Park, N.J.*
Albert Joseph, 79
Jane Eileen Josiah, 47, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Lt. Anthony Jovic, 39, Massapequa, N.Y.*
Angel Luis Juarbe, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Karen Susan Juday, 52, New York, N.Y.*
The Rev. Mychal Judge, 68, New York, N.Y.*
Paul W. Jurgens, 47, Levittown, N.Y.*
Thomas Edward Jurgens, 26, Lawrence, N.Y.*
Kacinga Kabeya, 63, McKinney, Texas
Shashi Kiran Lakshmikantha Kadaba, 25, Hackensack, N.J.*
Gavkharoy Mukhometovna Kamardinova, 26, New York, N.Y.
Shari Kandell, 27, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Howard Lee Kane, 40, Hazlet, N.J.*
Jennifer Lynn Kane, 26, Fair Lawn, N.J.*
Vincent D. Kane, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Joon Koo Kang, 34, Riverdale, N.J.*
Sheldon R. Kanter, 53, Edison, N.J.*
Deborah H. Kaplan, 45, Paramus, N.J.*
Alvin Peter Kappelmann, 57, Green Brook, N.J.*
Charles Karczewski, 34, Union, N.J.*
William A. Karnes, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas G. Karpiloff, 53, Mamaroneck, N.Y.*
Charles L. Kasper, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Andrew Kates, 37, New York, N.Y.*
John Katsimatides, 31, East Marion, N.Y.*
Sgt. Robert Kaulfers, 49, Kenilworth, N.J.*
Don Jerome Kauth, 51, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.*
Hideya Kawauchi, 36, Fort Lee, N.J.*
Edward T. Keane, 66, West Caldwell, N.J.*
Richard M. Keane, 54, Wethersfield, Conn.*
Lisa Kearney-Griffin, 35, Jamaica, N.Y.*
Karol Ann Keasler, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Paul Hanlon Keating, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Leo Russell Keene, 33, Westfield, N.J.*
Joseph J. Keller, 31, Park Ridge, N.J.*
Peter Rodney Kellerman, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph P. Kellett, 37, Riverdale, N.Y.*
Frederick H. Kelley, 57, Huntington, N.Y.*
James Joseph Kelly, 39, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Joseph A. Kelly, 40, Oyster Bay, N.Y.*
Maurice Patrick Kelly, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Richard John Kelly, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Michael Kelly, 41, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Thomas Richard Kelly, 38, Riverhead, N.Y.*
Thomas W. Kelly, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Timothy C. Kelly, 37, Port Washington, N.Y.*
William Hill Kelly, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Robert C. Kennedy, 55, Toms River, N.J.*
Thomas J. Kennedy, 36, Islip Terrace, N.Y.*
John Keohane, 41, Jersey City, N.J.*
Lt. Ronald T. Kerwin, 42, Levittown, N.Y.*
Howard L. Kestenbaum, 56, Montclair, N.J.*
Douglas D. Ketcham, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Ruth E. Ketler, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Boris Khalif, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Sarah Khan, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Taimour Firaz Khan, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Rajesh Khandelwal, 33, South Plainfield, N.J.*
SeiLai Khoo, 38, Jersey City, N.J.
Michael Kiefer, 25, Hempstead, N.Y.*
Satoshi Kikuchihara, 43, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Andrew Jay-Hoon Kim, 26, Leonia, N.J.*
Lawrence Don Kim, 31, Blue Bell, Pa.*
Mary Jo Kimelman, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Andrew Marshall King, 42, Princeton, N.J.*
Lucille T. King, 59, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Robert King, 36, Bellerose Terrace, N.Y.*
Lisa M. King-Johnson, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Takashi Kinoshita, 46, Rye, N.Y.
Chris Michael Kirby, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Howard (Barry) Kirschbaum, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Glenn Davis Kirwin, 40, Scarsdale, N.Y.*
Richard J. Klares, 59, Somers, N.Y.*
Peter A. Klein, 35, Weehawken, N.J.*
Alan D. Kleinberg, 39, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Karen J. Klitzman, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Ronald Philip Kloepfer, 39, Franklin Square, N.Y.*
Yevgeny Kniazev, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Patrick Knox, 31, Hoboken, N.J.*
Andrew Knox, 30, Adelaide, Australia*
Rebecca Lee Koborie, 48, Guttenberg, N.J.*
Deborah Kobus, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Gary Edward Koecheler, 57, Harrison, N.Y.*
Frank J. Koestner, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Ryan Kohart, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Vanessa Lynn Kolpak, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Irina Kolpakova, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Suzanne Kondratenko, 27, Chicago, Ill.*
Abdoulaye Kone, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Bon-seok Koo, 42, River Edge, N.J.*
Dorota Kopiczko, 26, Nutley, N.J.*
Scott Kopytko, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Bojan Kostic, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Danielle Kousoulis, 29, New York, N.Y.*
John J. Kren, 52*
William Krukowski, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Lyudmila Ksido, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Shekhar Kumar, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth Kumpel, 42, Cornwall, N.Y.*
Frederick Kuo, 53, Great Neck, N.Y.*
Patricia Kuras, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Nauka Kushitani, 44, New York, N.Y.
Thomas Joseph Kuveikis, 48, Carmel, N.Y.*
Victor Kwarkye, 35, New York, N.Y.
Kui Fai Kwok, 31, New York, N.Y.
Angela R. Kyte, 49, Boonton, N.J.*
Amarnauth Lachhman, 42, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Andrew LaCorte, 61, Jersey City, N.J.*
Ganesh Ladkat, 27, Somerset, N.J.*
James P. Ladley, 41, Colts Neck, N.J.*
Daniel M. Van Laere, 46, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Joseph A. Lafalce, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Jeanette LaFond-Menichino, 49, New York, N.Y.*
David LaForge, 50, Port Richmond, N.Y.*
Michael Patrick LaForte, 39, Holmdel, N.J.*
Alan Lafrance, 43*
Juan Lafuente, 61, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.*
Neil K. Lai, 59, East Windsor, N.J.
Vincent A. Laieta, 31, Edison, N.J.*
William David Lake, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Franco Lalama, 45, Nutley, N.J.*
Chow Kwan Lam, 48, Maywood, N.J.*
Stephen LaMantia, 38, Darien, Conn.*
Amy Hope Lamonsoff, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Robert T. Lane, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Brendan M. Lang, 30, Red Bank, N.J.*
Rosanne P. Lang, 42, Middletown, N.J.*
Vanessa Langer, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Mary Lou Langley, 53, New York, N.Y.
Peter J. Langone, 41, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.*
Thomas Langone, 39, Williston Park, N.Y.*
Michele B. Lanza, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Ruth Sheila Lapin, 53, East Windsor, N.J.*
Carol Ann LaPlante, 59, New York, N.Y.*
Ingeborg Astrid Desiree Lariby, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Robin Larkey, 48, Chatham, N.J.*
Christopher Randall Larrabee, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Hamidou S. Larry, 37, New York, N.Y.
Scott Larsen, 35, New York, N.Y.*
John Adam Larson, 37, Colonia, N.J.*
Gary E. Lasko, 49, Memphis, Tenn.*
Nicholas C. Lassman, 28, Cliffside Park, N.J.*
Paul Laszczynski, 49, Paramus, N.J.*
Jeffrey Latouche, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Cristina de Laura
Oscar de Laura
Charles Laurencin, 61, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen James Lauria, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Maria Lavache, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Denis F. Lavelle, 42, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Jeannine M. LaVerde, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Anna A. Laverty, 52, Middletown, N.J.*
Steven Lawn, 28, West Windsor, N.J.*
Robert A. Lawrence, 41, Summit, N.J.*
Nathaniel Lawson, 61, New York, N.Y.*
Eugen Lazar, 27, New York, N.Y.*
James Patrick Leahy, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Joseph Gerard Leavey, 45, Pelham, N.Y.*
Neil Leavy, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Leon Lebor, 51, Jersey City, N.J.*
Kenneth Charles Ledee, 38, Monmouth, N.J.
Alan J. Lederman, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Elena Ledesma, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Alexis Leduc, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Myung-woo Lee, 41, Lyndhurst, N.J.
David S. Lee, 37, West Orange, N.J.*
Gary H. Lee, 62, Lindenhurst, N.Y.*
Hyun-joon (Paul) Lee, 32, New York, N.Y.
Jong-min Lee, 24, New York, N.Y.
Juanita Lee, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Lorraine Lee, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Y.C. Lee, 34, Great Neck, N.Y.*
Yang Der Lee, 63, New York, N.Y.*
Kathryn Blair Lee, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Stuart (Soo-Jin) Lee, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Linda C. Lee, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen Lefkowitz, 50, Belle Harbor, N.Y.*
Adriana Legro, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Edward J. Lehman, 41, Glen Cove, N.Y.*
Eric Andrew Lehrfeld, 32, New York, N.Y.*
David Ralph Leistman, 43, Garden City, N.Y.*
David Prudencio LeMagne, 27, North Bergen, N.J.*
Joseph A. Lenihan, 41, Greenwich, Conn.*
John J. Lennon, 44, Howell, N.J.*
John Robinson Lenoir, 38, Locust Valley, N.Y.*
Jorge Luis Leon, 43, Union City, N.J.
Matthew Gerard Leonard, 38, New York, N.Y.
Michael Lepore, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Antoine Lesperance, 55*
Jeffrey Earle LeVeen, 55, Manhasset, N.Y.*
John D. Levi, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Alisha Caren Levin, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Neil D. Levin, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Levine, 56, West Babylon, N.Y.
Robert M. Levine, 66, Edgewater, N.J.*
Shai Levinhar, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Adam J. Lewis, 36, Fairfield, Conn.*
Margaret Susan Lewis, 49, Elizabeth, N.J.*
Ye Wei Liang, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Orasri Liangthanasarn, 26, Bayonne, N.J.*
Daniel F. Libretti, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Ralph M. Licciardi, 30, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Edward Lichtschein, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Steven B. Lillianthal, 38, Millburn, N.J.*
Carlos R. Lillo, 37, Babylon, N.Y.*
Craig Damian Lilore, 30, Lyndhurst, N.J.*
Arnold A. Lim, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Darya Lin, 32, Chicago, Ill.*
Wei Rong Lin, 31, Jersey City, N.J.*
Nickie L. Lindo, 31, New York, N.Y.
Thomas V. Linehan, 39, Montville, N.J.*
Robert Thomas Linnane, 33, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Alan Linton, 26, Jersey City, N.J.*
Diane Theresa Lipari, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth P. Lira, 28, Paterson, N.J.*
Francisco Alberto Liriano, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Lorraine Lisi, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Paul Lisson, 45, New York, N.Y.
Vincent Litto, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Ming-Hao Liu, 41, Livingston, N.J.*
Nancy Liz, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Harold Lizcano, 31, East Elmhurst, N.Y.*
Martin Lizzul, 31, New York, N.Y.*
George A. Llanes, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Elizabeth Claire Logler, 31, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Catherine Lisa Loguidice, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Jerome Robert Lohez, 30, Jersey City, N.J.*
Michael W. Lomax, 37, New York, N.Y.
Laura M. Longing, 35, Pearl River, N.Y.*
Salvatore P. Lopes, 40, Franklin Square, N.Y.*
Daniel Lopez, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Luis Lopez, 38, New York, N.Y.
Manuel L. Lopez, 54, Jersey City, N.J.*
George Lopez, 40, Stroudsburg, Pa.*
Joseph Lostrangio, 48, Langhorne, Pa.*
Chet Louie, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Stuart Seid Louis, 43, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Joseph Lovero, 60, Jersey City, N.J.*
Michael W. Lowe, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Garry Lozier, 47, Darien, Conn.*
John Peter Lozowsky, 45, New York, N.Y.
Charles Peter Lucania, 34, East Atlantic Beach, N.Y.*
Edward (Ted) H. Luckett, 40, Fair Haven, N.J.*
Mark G. Ludvigsen, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Lee Charles Ludwig, 49, New York, N.Y.
Sean Thomas Lugano, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel Lugo, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Marie Lukas, 32, New York, N.Y.*
William Lum, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Michael P. Lunden, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Lunder, 34, Wall, N.J.*
Anthony Luparello, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Gary Lutnick, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Linda Luzzicone, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Alexander Lygin, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Farrell Peter Lynch, 39, Centerport, N.Y.*
James Francis Lynch, 47, Woodbridge, N.J.
Louise A. Lynch, 58, Amityville, N.Y.*
Michael Lynch, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Michael F. Lynch, 33, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Michael Francis Lynch, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Dennis Lynch, 30, Bedford Hills, N.Y.*
Robert H. Lynch, 44, Cranford, N.J.*
Sean Patrick Lynch, 36, Morristown, N.J.*
Sean Lynch, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Michael J. Lyons, 32, Hawthorne, N.Y.*
Patrick Lyons, 34, South Setauket, N.Y.*
Monica Lyons, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Francis Mace, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Jan Maciejewski, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Catherine Fairfax MacRae, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Richard B. Madden, 35, Westfield, N.J.*
Simon Maddison, 40, Florham Park, N.J.*
Noell Maerz, 29, Long Beach, N.Y.*
Jeannieann Maffeo, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Maffeo, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Jay Robert Magazine, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Wilson Magee, 51, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Brian Magee, 52, Floral Park, N.Y.
Joseph Maggitti, 47, Abingdon, Md.*
Ronald E. Magnuson, 57, Park Ridge, N.J.*
Daniel L. Maher, 50, Hamilton, N.J.*
Thomas Anthony Mahon, 37, East Norwich, N.Y.*
William Mahoney, 38, Bohemia, N.Y.*
Joseph Maio, 32, Roslyn Harbor, N.Y.*
Takashi Makimoto, 49, New York, N.Y.
Abdu Malahi, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Debora Maldonado, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Myrna T. Maldonado-Agosto, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Alfred R. Maler, 39, Convent Station, N.J.*
Gregory James Malone, 42, Hoboken, N.J.*
Edward Francis (Teddy) Maloney, 32, Darien, Conn.
Joseph E. Maloney, 46, Farmingville, N.Y.*
Gene E. Maloy, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Christian Maltby, 37, Chatham, N.J.*
Francisco Miguel (Frank) Mancini, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Mangano, 53, Jackson, N.J.*
Sara Elizabeth Manley, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Debra M. Mannetta, 31, Islip, N.Y.*
Terence J. Manning, 36, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Marion Victoria (vickie) Manning, 27, Rochdale, N.Y.*
James Maounis, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Ross Marchbanks, 47, Nanuet, N.Y.*
Peter Edward Mardikian, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Edward Joseph Mardovich, 42, Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.*
Lt. Charles Joseph Margiotta, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth Joseph Marino, 40, Monroe, N.Y.*
Lester Vincent Marino, 57, Massapequa, N.Y.*
Vita Marino, 49, New York, N.Y.
Kevin D. Marlo, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Jose J. Marrero, 32, Old Bridge, N.J.*
John Marshall, 35, Congers, N.Y.*
James Martello, 41, Rumson, N.J.*
Michael A. Marti, 26, Glendale, N.Y.*
Lt. Peter Martin, 43, Miller Place, N.Y.*
William J. Martin, 35, Rockaway, N.J.*
Brian E. Martineau, 37, Edison, N.J.*
Betsy Martinez, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Edward J. Martinez, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Jose Angel Martinez, 49, Hauppauge, N.Y.*
Robert Gabriel Martinez, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Lizie Martinez-Calderon, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Paul Richard Martini, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph A. Mascali, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Bernard Mascarenhas, 54, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada*
Stephen F. Masi, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Nicholas G. Massa, 65, New York, N.Y.*
Patricia A. Massari, 25, Glendale, N.Y.*
Michael Massaroli, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Philip W. Mastrandrea, 42, Chatham, N.J.*
Rudolph Mastrocinque, 43, Kings Park, N.Y.*
Joseph Mathai, 49, Arlington, Mass.*
Charles William Mathers, 61, Sea Girt, N.J.*
William A. Mathesen, 40, Morristown, N.J.*
Marcello Matricciano, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Margaret Elaine Mattic, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Robert D. Mattson, 54, Green Pond, N.J.*
Walter Matuza, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Charles A. (Chuck) Mauro, 65, New York, N.Y.*
Charles J. Mauro, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Dorothy Mauro, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Nancy T. Mauro, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Tyrone May, 44, Rahway, N.J.*
Keithroy Maynard, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Robert J. Mayo, 46, Morganville, N.J.*
Kathy Nancy Mazza-Delosh, 46, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
Edward Mazzella, 62, Monroe, N.Y.*
Jennifer Mazzotta, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Kaaria Mbaya, 39, Edison, N.J.*
James J. McAlary, 42, Spring Lake Heights, N.J.*
Brian McAleese, 36, Baldwin, N.Y.*
Patricia A. McAneney, 50, Pomona, N.Y.*
Colin Richard McArthur, 52, Howell, N.J.*
John McAvoy, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth M. McBrayer, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Brendan McCabe, 40, Sayville, N.Y.*
Michael J. McCabe, 42, Rumson, N.J.*
Thomas McCann, 46, Manalapan, N.J.*
Justin McCarthy, 30, Port Washington, N.Y.*
Kevin M. McCarthy, 42, Fairfield, Conn.*
Michael Desmond McCarthy, 33, Huntington, N.Y.*
Robert Garvin McCarthy, 33, Stony Point, N.Y.*
Stanley McCaskill, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Katie Marie McCloskey, 25, Mount Vernon, N.Y.*
Tara McCloud-Gray, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Austin McCrann, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Tonyell McDay, 25, Colonia, N.J.*
Matthew T. McDermott, 34, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Joseph P. McDonald, 43, Livingston, N.J.
Brian G. McDonnell, 38, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Michael McDonnell, 34, Red Bank, N.J.*
John F. McDowell, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Eamon J. McEneaney, 46, New Canaan, Conn.*
John Thomas McErlean, 39, Larchmont, N.Y.*
Daniel F. McGinley, 40, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Mark Ryan McGinly, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. William E. McGinn, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas H. McGinnis, 41, Oakland, N.J.*
Michael Gregory McGinty, 42, Foxboro, Mass.*
Ann McGovern, 68, East Meadow, N.Y.*
Scott Martin McGovern, 35, Wyckoff, N.J.*
William J. McGovern, 49, Smithtown, N.Y.*
Stacey S. McGowan, 38, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Francis Noel McGuinn, 48, Rye, N.Y.*
Patrick J. McGuire, 40, Madison, N.J.
Thomas M. McHale, 33, Huntington, N.Y.*
Keith McHeffey, 31, Monmouth Beach, N.J.*
Denis J. McHugh, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis P. McHugh, 34, Sparkill, N.Y.*
Michael Edward McHugh, 35, Tuckahoe, N.Y.*
Ann M. McHugh, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Robert G. McIlvaine, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Donald James McIntyre, 38, New City, N.Y.*
Stephanie McKenna, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Barry J. McKeon, 47, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.*
Evelyn C. McKinnedy, 60, New York, N.Y.
Darryl Leron McKinney, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Robert C. McLaughlin, 29, Westchester, N.Y.*
George Patrick McLaughlin, 36, Hoboken, N.J.*
Gavin McMahon, 35, Bayonne, N.J.*
Robert Dismas McMahon, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Edmund M. McNally, 41, Fair Haven, N.J.*
Daniel McNeal, 29, Towson, Md.
Walter Arthur McNeil, 53, Stroudsburg, Pa.*
Sean Peter McNulty, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Christine Sheila McNulty, 42, Peterborough, England
Robert William McPadden, 30, Pearl River, N.Y.*
Terence A. McShane, 37, West Islip, N.Y.*
Timothy Patrick McSweeney, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Martin E. McWilliams, 35, Kings Park, N.Y.*
Rocco A. Medaglia, 49, Melville, N.Y.*
Abigail Cales Medina, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Ana Iris Medina, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Deborah Medwig, 46, Dedham, Mass.
William J. Meehan, 49, Darien, Conn.*
Damian Meehan, 32, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Alok Kumar Mehta, 23, Hempstead, N.Y.*
Raymond Meisenheimer, 46, West Babylon, N.Y.*
Manuel Emilio Mejia, 54, New York, N.Y.
Eskedar Melaku, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Antonio Melendez, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Mary Melendez, 44, Stroudsburg, Pa.*
Yelena Melnichenko, 28, Brooklyn, N.Y.*
Stuart Todd Meltzer, 32, Syosset, N.Y.*
Diarelia Jovannah Mena, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Mendez, 38, Floral Park, N.Y.*
Lizette Mendoza, 33, North Bergen, N.J.*
Shevonne Mentis, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Steve Mercado, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Wesley Mercer, 70, New York, N.Y.*
Ralph Joseph Mercurio, 47, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Alan H. Merdinger, 47, Allentown, Pa.*
George C. Merino, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Yamel Merino, 24, Yonkers, N.Y.
George Merkouris, 35, Levittown, N.Y.*
Deborah Merrick, 45
Raymond J. Metz, 37, Trumbull, Conn.*
Jill A. Metzler, 32, Franklin Square, N.Y.*
David Robert Meyer, 57, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Nurul Huq Miah, 35, New York, N.Y.*
William Edward Micciulli, 30, Matawan, N.J.*
Martin Paul Michelstein, 57, Morristown, N.J.
Luis Clodoaldo Revilla Mier, 54
Peter T. Milano, 43, Middletown, N.J.*
Gregory Milanowycz, 25, Cranford, N.J.*
Lukasz T. Milewski, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Craig James Miller, 29, Va.
Corey Peter Miller, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Douglas C. Miller, 34, Port Jervis, N.Y.*
Henry Miller, 52, Massapequa, N.Y.*
Michael Matthew Miller, 39, Englewood, N.J.*
Phillip D. Miller, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Robert C. Miller, 55, Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.
Robert Alan Miller, 46, Matawan, N.J.*
Joel Miller, 55, Baldwin, N.Y.*
Benjamin Millman, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Charles M. Mills, 61, Brentwood, N.Y.*
Ronald Keith Milstein, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Minara, 54, Carmel, N.Y.*
William G. Minardi, 46, Bedford, N.Y.*
Louis Joseph Minervino, 54, Middletown, N.J.*
Thomas Mingione, 34, West Islip, N.Y.*
Wilbert Miraille, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Domenick Mircovich, 40, Closter, N.J.*
Rajesh A. Mirpuri, 30, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.*
Joseph Mistrulli, 47, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Susan Miszkowicz, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Paul Thomas Mitchell, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Miuccio, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Frank V. Moccia, 57, Hauppauge, N.Y.*
Capt. Louis Joseph Modafferi, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Boyie Mohammed, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Dennis Mojica, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Manuel Mojica, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Manuel Dejesus Molina, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Kleber Rolando Molina, 44, New York, N.Y.
Fernando Jimenez Molinar, 21, Oaxaca, Mexico
Carl Molinaro, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Justin J. Molisani, 42, Middletown Township, N.J.*
Brian Patrick Monaghan, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Franklin Monahan, 45, Roxbury, N.Y.*
John Gerard Monahan, 47, Wanamassa, N.J.*
Kristen Montanaro, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Craig D. Montano, 38, Glen Ridge, N.J.*
Michael Montesi, 39, Highland Mills, N.Y.*
Cheryl Ann Monyak, 43, Greenwich, Conn.*
Capt. Thomas Moody, 45, Stony Brook, N.Y.*
Sharon Moore, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Krishna Moorthy, 59, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.*
Abner Morales, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Carlos Morales, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Paula Morales, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Luis Morales, 46, New York, N.Y.
John Moran, 43, Rockaway, N.Y.*
John Christopher Moran, 38, Haslemere, Surrey, England
Kathleen Moran, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Lindsay S. Morehouse, 24, New York, N.Y.*
George Morell, 47, Mount. Kisco, N.Y.
Steven P. Morello, 52, Bayonne, N.J.*
Vincent S. Morello, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Arturo Alva Moreno, 47, Mexico City, Mexico*
Yvette Nicole Moreno, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Dorothy Morgan, 47, Hempstead, N.Y.*
Richard Morgan, 66, Glen Rock, N.J.*
Nancy Morgenstern, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Sanae Mori, 27, Tokyo, Japan*
Blanca Morocho, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Leonel Morocho, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis G. Moroney, 39, Eastchester, N.Y.*
Lynne Irene Morris, 22, Monroe, N.Y.*
Seth A. Morris, 35, Kinnelon, N.J.*
Stephen Philip Morris, 31, Ormond Beach, Fla.
Christopher M. Morrison, 34, Charlestown, Mass.*
Ferdinand V. Morrone, 63, Lakewood, N.J.*
William David Moskal, 50, Brecksville, Ohio*
Manuel Da Mota, 43, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Marco Motroni, 57, Fort Lee, N.J.*
Iouri A. Mouchinski, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Jude J. Moussa, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Peter C. Moutos, 44, Chatham, N.J.*
Damion Mowatt, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Mozzillo, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen V. Mulderry, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Muldowney, 40, Babylon, N.Y.*
Michael D. Mullan, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis Michael Mulligan, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Peter James Mulligan, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Joseph Mullin, 27, Hoboken, N.J.*
James Donald Munhall, 45, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Nancy Muniz, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Carlos Mario Munoz, 43*
Francisco Munoz, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Theresa (Terry) Munson, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Robert M. Murach, 45, Montclair, N.J.*
Cesar Augusto Murillo, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Marc A. Murolo, 28, Maywood, N.J.*
Robert Eddie Murphy, 56, New York, N.Y.
Brian Joseph Murphy, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher W. Murphy, 35, Easton, Md.*
Edward C. Murphy, 42, Clifton, N.J.*
James F. Murphy, 30, Garden City, N.Y.*
James Thomas Murphy, 35, Middletown, N.J.*
Kevin James Murphy, 40, Northport, N.Y.*
Patrick Sean Murphy, 36, Millburn, N.J.*
Lt. Raymond E. Murphy, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Charles Murphy, 38, New York, N.Y.*
John Joseph Murray, 32, Hoboken, N.J.*
John Joseph Murray, 52, Colts Neck, N.J.
Susan D. Murray, 54, Summit, N.J.*
Valerie Victoria Murray, 65, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Todd Myhre, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Robert B. Nagel, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Takuya Nakamura, 30, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Alexander J.R. Napier, 38, Morris Township, N.J.*
Frank Joseph Naples, 29, Cliffside Park, N.J.*
John Napolitano, 33, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.*
Catherine A. Nardella, 40, Bloomfield, N.J.*
Mario Nardone, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Manika Narula, 22, Kings Park, N.Y.*
Narender Nath, 33, Colonia, N.J.
Karen S. Navarro, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph M. Navas, 44, Paramus, N.J.*
Francis J. Nazario, 28, Jersey City, N.J.*
Glenroy Neblett, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Marcus R. Neblett, 31, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.*
Jerome O. Nedd, 39, New York, N.Y.
Laurence Nedell, 51, Lindenhurst, N.Y.*
Luke G. Nee, 44, Stony Point, N.Y.*
Pete Negron, 34, Bergenfield, N.J.*
Ann Nicole Nelson, 30, New York, N.Y.*
David William Nelson, 50, New York, N.Y.*
James Nelson, 40, Clark, N.J.*
Michele Ann Nelson, 27, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Peter Allen Nelson, 42, Huntington Station, N.Y.*
Oscar Nesbitt, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Gerard Terence Nevins, 46, Campbell Hall, N.Y.*
Christopher Newton-Carter, 51, Middletown, N.J.*
Kapinga Ngalula, 58, McKinney, Texas
Nancy Yuen Ngo, 36, Harrington Park, N.J.*
Jody Tepedino Nichilo, 39, New York, N.Y.
Martin Niederer, 23, Hoboken, N.J.*
Alfonse J. Niedermeyer, 40, Manasquan, N.J.*
Frank John Niestadt, 55, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.*
Gloria Nieves, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Juan Nieves, 56, New York, N.Y.*
Troy Edward Nilsen, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Paul R. Nimbley, 42, Middletown, N.J.*
John Ballantine Niven, 44, Oyster Bay, N.Y.*
Katherine (Katie) McGarry Noack, 30, Hoboken, N.J.*
Curtis Terrence Noel, 22, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.*
Daniel R. Nolan, 44, Hopatcong, N.J.*
Robert Walter Noonan, 36, Norwalk, Conn.*
Daniela R. Notaro, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Brian Novotny, 33, Hoboken, N.J.*
Soichi Numata, 45, Irvington, N.Y.*
Brian Felix Nunez, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Jose R. Nunez, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Jeffrey Nussbaum, 37, Oceanside, N.Y.*
James A. Oakley, 52, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.*
Dennis O'Berg, 28, Babylon, N.Y.*
James P. O'Brien, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Scott J. O'Brien, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Timothy Michael O'Brien, 40, Brookville, N.Y.*
Michael O'Brien, 42, Cedar Knolls, N.J.*
Captain Daniel O'Callaghan, 42, Smithtown, N.Y.*
Richard J. O'Connor, 49, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.*
Dennis J. O'Connor, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Diana J. O'Connor, 38, Eastchester, N.Y.*
Keith K. O'Connor, 28, Hoboken, N.J.*
Amy O'Doherty, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Marni Pont O'Doherty, 31, Armonk, N.Y.*
Douglas Oelschlager, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Takashi Ogawa, 37, Tokyo, Japan
Albert Ogletree, 49, New York, N.Y.
Philip Paul Ognibene, 39, New York, N.Y.*
James Andrew O'Grady, 32, Harrington Park, N.J.*
Joseph J. Ogren, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Samuel Oitice, 45, Peekskill, N.Y.*
Patrick O'Keefe, 44, Oakdale, N.Y.*
Capt. William O'Keefe, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Gerald Michael Olcott, 55, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Gerald O'Leary, 34, Stony Point, N.Y.*
Christine Anne Olender, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Elsy Carolina Osorio Oliva, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Linda Mary Oliva, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Edward K. Oliver, 31, Jackson, N.J.*
Leah E. Oliver, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Eric T. Olsen, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Jeffrey James Olsen, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Maureen L. Olson, 50, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Steven John Olson, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew Timothy O'Mahony, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Toshihiro Onda, 39, New York, N.Y.
Seamus L. Oneal, 52, New York, N.Y.*
John P. O'Neill, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Sean Gordon Corbett O'Neill, 34, Rye, N.Y.*
Peter J. O'Neill, 21, Amityville, N.Y.*
Michael C. Opperman, 45, Selden, N.Y.*
Christopher Orgielewicz, 35, Larchmont, N.Y.*
Margaret Orloske, 50, Windsor, Conn.*
Virginia A. Ormiston, 42, New York, N.Y.
Kevin O'Rourke, 44, Hewlett, N.Y.*
Juan Romero Orozco, Acatlan de Osorio, Puebla, Mexico
Ronald Orsini, 59, Hillsdale, N.J.*
Peter K. Ortale, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Emilio (Peter) Ortiz, 38, New York, N.Y.
David Ortiz, 37, Nanuet, N.Y.*
Paul Ortiz, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Sonia Ortiz, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Alexander Ortiz, 36, Ridgewood, N.Y.*
Pablo Ortiz, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Masaru Ose, 36, Fort Lee, N.J.
Robert W. O'Shea, 47, Wall, N.J.*
Patrick J. O'Shea, 45, Farmingdale, N.Y.*
James Robert Ostrowski, 37, Garden City, N.Y.
Timothy O'Sullivan, 68, Albrightsville, Pa.*
Jason Douglas Oswald, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Otten, 42, East Islip, N.Y.*
Isidro Ottenwalder, 35, New York, N.Y.
Michael Chung Ou, 53, New York, N.Y.
Todd Joseph Ouida, 25, River Edge, N.J.*
Jesus Ovalles, 60, New York, N.Y.
Peter J. Owens, 42, Williston Park, N.Y.*
Adianes Oyola, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Angel M. Pabon, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Israel Pabon, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Roland Pacheco, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Benjamin Packer, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Deepa K. Pakkala, 31, Stewartsville, N.J.*
Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Anthony Palazzo, 44, Armonk, N.Y.*
Richard (Rico) Palazzolo, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Orio Joseph Palmer, 45, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Frank A. Palombo, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Alan N. Palumbo, 42, New York, N.Y.
Christopher M. Panatier, 36, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Dominique Pandolfo, 27, Hoboken, N.J.*
Paul Pansini, 34, New York, N.Y.*
John M. Paolillo, 51, Glen Head, N.Y.*
Edward J. Papa, 47, Oyster Bay, N.Y.*
Salvatore Papasso, 34, New York, N.Y.*
James N. Pappageorge, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Vinod K. Parakat, 34, Sayreville, N.J.*
Vijayashanker Paramsothy, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Nitin Ramesh Parandkar, 28, Waltham, Mass.*
Hardai (Casey) Parbhu, 42, New York, N.Y.*
James Wendell Parham, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Debra (Debbie) Paris, 48, New York, N.Y.*
George Paris, 33, New York, N.Y.
Gye-Hyong Park, 28, New York, N.Y.
Philip L. Parker, 53, Skillman, N.J.*
Michael A. Parkes, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Emmett Parks, 47, Middletown, N.J.*
Hasmukhrai Chuckulal Parmar, 48, Warren, N.J.*
Robert Parro, 35, Levittown, N.Y.*
Diane Marie Moore Parsons, 58, Malta, N.Y.*
Leobardo Lopez Pascual, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Michael J. Pascuma, 50, Massapequa Park, N.Y.
Jerrold H. Paskins, 56, Anaheim Hills, Calif.*
Horace Robert Passananti, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Suzanne H. Passaro, 38, East Brunswick, N.J.*
Victor Antonio Martinez Pastrana, 38, Tlachichuca, Puebla, Mexico
Manish K. Patel, 29, Edison, N.J.*
Avnish Ramanbhai Patel, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Dipti Patel, 38, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Steven B. Paterson, 40, Ridgewood, N.J.*
James Matthew Patrick, 30, Norwalk, Conn.*
Manuel Patrocino, 34*
Bernard E. Patterson, 46, Upper Brookville, N.Y.*
Cira Marie Patti, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Edward Pattison, 40, New York, N.Y.*
James R. Paul, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Sharon Cristina Millan Paz, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Patrice Paz, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Victor Paz-Gutierrez, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Stacey L. Peak, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Allen Pearlman, 18, New York, N.Y.*
Durrell Pearsall, 34, Hempstead, N.Y.*
Thomas E. Pedicini, 30, Hicksville, N.Y.*
Todd D. Pelino, 34, Fair Haven, N.J.*
Michel Adrian Pelletier, 36, Greenwich, Conn.*
Anthony Peluso, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Angel Ramon Pena, 45, River Vale, N.J.*
Richard Al Penny, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Salvatore F. Pepe, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Carl Allen Peralta, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Robert David Peraza, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Jon A. Perconti, 32, Brick, N.J.*
Alejo Perez, 66, Union City, N.J.*
Angel Perez, 43, Jersey City, N.J.*
Angela Susan Perez, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Ivan Perez, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Nancy E. Perez, 36, Secaucus, N.J.*
Anthony Perez, 33, Locust Valley, N.Y.*
Joseph John Perroncino, 33, Smithtown, N.Y.*
Edward J. Perrotta, 43, Mount Sinai, N.Y.*
Lt. Glenn C. Perry, 41, Monroe, N.Y.*
Emelda Perry, 52, Elmont, N.Y.
John William Perry, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Franklin Allan Pershep, 59, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel Pesce, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Michael J. Pescherine, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Davin Peterson, 25, New York, N.Y.*
William Russel Peterson, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Mark Petrocelli, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Philip S. Petti, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Glen Kerrin Pettit, 30, Oakdale, N.Y.*
Dominick Pezzulo, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Kaleen E. Pezzuti, 28, Fair Haven, N.J.*
Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Tu-Anh Pham, 42, Princeton, N.J.*
Lt. Kenneth John Phelan, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Michael V. San Phillip, 55, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Eugenia Piantieri, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Ludwig John Picarro, 44, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Matthew Picerno, 44, Holmdel, N.J.*
Joseph O. Pick, 40, Hoboken, N.J.*
Christopher Pickford, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis J. Pierce, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph A. Della Pietra, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Bernard T. Pietronico, 39, Matawan, N.J.*
Nicholas P. Pietrunti, 38, Belford, N.J.*
Theodoros Pigis, 60, New York, N.Y.
Susan Elizabeth Ancona Pinto, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Piskadlo, 48, North Arlington, N.J.*
Christopher Todd Pitman, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Josh Michael Piver, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Plumitallo, 45, Manalapan, N.J.*
John M. Pocher, 36, Middletown, N.J.*
William Howard Pohlmann, 56, Ardsley, N.Y.*
Laurence M. Polatsch, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas H. Polhemus, 39, Morris Plains, N.J.*
Steve Pollicino, 48, Plainview, N.Y.*
Susan M. Pollio, 45, Long Beach Township, N.J.*
Joshua Poptean, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Giovanna Porras, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony Portillo, 48, New York, N.Y.*
James Edward Potorti, 52, Princeton, N.J.*
Daphne Pouletsos, 47, Westwood, N.J.*
Richard Poulos, 55, Levittown, N.Y.*
Stephen E. Poulos, 45, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Brandon Jerome Powell, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Shawn Edward Powell, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Tony Pratt, 43, New York, N.Y.
Gregory M. Preziose, 34, Holmdel, N.J.*
Wanda Ivelisse Prince, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Vincent Princiotta, 39, Orangeburg, N.Y.*
Kevin Prior, 28, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Everett Martin (Marty) Proctor, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Carrie B. Progen, 25, New York, N.Y.*
David Lee Pruim, 53, Upper Montclair, N.J.
Richard Prunty, 57, Sayville, N.Y.*
John F. Puckett, 47, Glen Cove, N.Y.*
Robert D. Pugliese, 47, East Fishkill, N.Y.*
Edward F. Pullis, 34, Hazlet, N.J.*
Patricia Ann Puma, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Hemanth Kumar Puttur, 26, White Plains, N.Y.*
Edward R. Pykon, 33, Princeton, N.J.*
Christopher Quackenbush, 44, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Lars Peter Qualben, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Lincoln Quappe, 38, Sayville, N.Y.*
Beth Ann Quigley, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Michael Quilty, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Ricardo Quinn, 40, New York, N.Y.*
James Francis Quinn, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Carol Rabalais, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Peter A. Racaniello, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Leonard Ragaglia, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Eugene J. Raggio, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Laura Marie Ragonese-Snik, 41, Bangor, Pa.*
Michael Ragusa, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Peter F. Raimondi, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Harry A. Raines, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Ehtesham U. Raja, 28, Clifton, N.J.*
Valsa Raju, 39, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Edward Rall, 44, Holbrook, N.Y.*
Lukas (Luke) Rambousek, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Julio Fernandez Ramirez, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Maria Isabel Ramirez, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Harry Ramos, 41, Newark, N.J.*
Vishnoo Ramsaroop, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Lorenzo Ramzey, 48, East Northport, N.Y.*
A. Todd Rancke, 42, Summit, N.J.*
Adam David Rand, 30, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Jonathan C. Randall, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Srinivasa Shreyas Ranganath, 26, Hackensack, N.J.*
Anne Rose T. Ransom, 45, Edgewater, N.J.*
Faina Rapoport, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Arthur Rasmussen, 42, Hinsdale, Ill.*
Amenia Rasool, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Roger Mark Rasweiler, 53, Flemington, N.J.*
David Alan James Rathkey, 47, Mountain Lakes, N.J.*
William Ralph Raub, 38, Saddle River, N.J.*
Gerard Rauzi, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Alexey Razuvaev, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Gregory Reda, 33, New Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Sarah Prothero Redheffer, 35, London, England*
Michele Reed, 26, Ringoes, N.J.*
Judith A. Reese, 56, Kearny, N.J.
Donald J. Regan, 47, Wallkill, N.Y.*
Lt. Robert M. Regan, 48, Floral Park, N.Y.*
Thomas M. Regan, 43, Cranford, N.J.*
Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Howard Reich, 59, New York, N.Y.*
Gregg Reidy, 26, Holmdel, N.J.*
Kevin O. Reilly, 28, New York, N.Y.*
James Brian Reilly, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Timothy E. Reilly, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Reina, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Barnes Reinig, 48, Bernardsville, N.J.*
Frank B. Reisman, 41, Princeton, N.J.*
Joshua Scott Reiss, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Karen Renda, 52, New York, N.Y.*
John Armand Reo, 28, Larchmont, N.Y.*
Richard Rescorla, 62, Morristown, N.J.*
John Thomas Resta, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Sylvia San Pio Resta, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Eduvigis (Eddie) Reyes, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Bruce A. Reynolds, 41, Columbia, N.J.*
John Frederick Rhodes, 57, Howell, N.J.*
Francis S. Riccardelli, 40, Westwood, N.J.*
Rudolph N. Riccio, 50, New York, N.Y.
AnnMarie (Davi) Riccoboni, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Eileen Mary Rice, 57, New York, N.Y.
David Rice, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth F. Rice, 34, Hicksville, N.Y.*
Lt. Vernon Allan Richard, 53, Nanuet, N.Y.*
Claude D. Richards, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Gregory Richards, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Richards, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Venesha O. Richards, 26, North Brunswick, N.J.*
James C. Riches, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Alan Jay Richman, 44, New York, N.Y.*
John M. Rigo, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Theresa (Ginger) Risco, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Rose Mary Riso, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Moises N. Rivas, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Rivelli, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Isaias Rivera, 51, Perth Amboy, N.J.*
Linda Rivera, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Juan William Rivera, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Carmen A. Rivera, 33, Westtown, N.Y.*
David E. Rivers, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph R. Riverso, 34, White Plains, N.Y.*
Paul Rizza, 34, Park Ridge, N.J.*
John Frank Rizzo, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen Louis Roach, 36, Verona, N.J.*
Joseph Roberto, 37, Midland Park, N.J.*
Leo A. Roberts, 44, Wayne, N.J.*
Michael Roberts, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Edward Roberts, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Donald Walter Robertson, 35, Rumson, N.J.*
Catherina Robinson, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Jeffrey Robinson, 38, Monmouth Junction, N.J.*
Michell Lee Robotham, 32, Kearny, N.J.*
Donald Robson, 52, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Antonio Augusto Tome Rocha, 34, East Hanover, N.J.*
Raymond J. Rocha, 29, Malden, Mass.*
Laura Rockefeller, 41, New York, N.Y.*
John M. Rodak, 39, Mantua, N.J.*
Antonio Jose Carrusca Rodrigues, 35, Port Washington, N.Y.*
Anthony Rodriguez, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Carmen Milagros Rodriguez, 46, Freehold, N.J.*
Marsha A. Rodriguez, 41, West Paterson, N.J.
Richard Rodriguez, 31, Cliffwood, N.J.*
Gregory E. Rodriguez, 31, White Plains, N.Y.
David B. Rodriguez-Vargas, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew Rogan, 37, West Islip, N.Y.*
Karlie Barbara Rogers, 25, London, England*
Scott Rohner, 22, Hoboken, N.J.*
Keith Roma, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph M. Romagnolo, 37, Coram, N.Y.*
Elvin Santiago Romero, 34, Matawan, N.J.*
Efrain Franco Romero, 57, Hazleton, Pa.*
James A. Romito, 51, Westwood, N.J.*
Sean Rooney, 50, Stamford, Conn.*
Eric Thomas Ropiteau, 24, New York, N.Y.
Aida Rosario, 42, Jersey City, N.J.*
Angela Rosario, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Fitzroy St. Rose, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Mark H. Rosen, 45, West Islip, N.Y.*
Linda Rosenbaum, 41, Little Falls, N.J.
Brooke David Rosenbaum, 31, Franklin Square, N.Y.*
Sheryl Lynn Rosenbaum, 33, Warren, N.J.*
Lloyd D. Rosenberg, 31, Morganville, N.J.*
Mark Louis Rosenberg, 26, Teaneck, N.J.*
Andrew I. Rosenblum, 45, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Joshua M. Rosenblum, 28, Hoboken, N.J.*
Joshua A. Rosenthal, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Richard David Rosenthal, 50, Fair Lawn, N.J.*
Daniel Rossetti, 32, Bloomfield, N.J.*
Norman Rossinow, 39, Cedar Grove, N.J.*
Nicholas P. Rossomando, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Craig Rothberg, 39, Greenwich, Conn.*
Donna Marie Rothenberg, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Nick Rowe, 29, Hoboken, N.J.*
Timothy A. Roy, 36, Massapequa Park, N.Y.*
Paul G. Ruback, 50, Newburgh, N.Y.*
Ronald J. Ruben, 36, Hoboken, N.J.*
Joanne Rubino, 45, New York, N.Y.*
David Michael Ruddle, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Bart Joseph Ruggiere, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Susan Ann Ruggiero, 30, Plainview, N.Y.*
Adam K. Ruhalter, 40, Plainview, N.Y.*
Gilbert Ruiz, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Stephen P. Russell, 40, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.*
Steven Harris Russin, 32, Mendham, N.J.*
Lt. Michael Thomas Russo, 44, Nesconset, N.Y.*
Wayne Alan Russo, 37, Union, N.J.*
John J. Ryan, 45, West Windsor, N.J.*
Edward Ryan, 42, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Jonathan Stephan Ryan, 32, Bayville, N.Y.*
Matthew Lancelot Ryan, 54, Seaford, N.Y.*
Kristin A. Irvine Ryan, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Tatiana Ryjova, 36, South Salem, N.Y.
Christina Sunga Ryook, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Thierry Saada, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Jason E. Sabbag, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas E. Sabella, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Scott Saber, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Sacerdote, 48, Freehold, N.J.*
Mohammad Ali Sadeque, 62, New York, N.Y.
Francis J. Sadocha, 41, Huntington, N.Y.*
Jude Elias Safi, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Brock Joel Safronoff, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Edward Saiya, 49, New York, N.Y.*
John Patrick Salamone, 37, North Caldwell, N.J.*
Hernando R. Salas, 71, New York, N.Y.
Juan Salas, 35, New York, N.Y.
Esmerlin Salcedo, 36, New York, N.Y.
John Salvatore Salerno, 31, Westfield, N.J.*
Richard L. Salinardi, 32, Hoboken, N.J.*
Wayne John Saloman, 43, Seaford, N.Y.*
Nolbert Salomon, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Catherine Patricia Salter, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Frank Salvaterra, 41, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Paul R. Salvio, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Samuel R. Salvo, 59, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Carlos Samaniego, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Rena Sam-Dinnoo, 28, New York, N.Y.*
James Kenneth Samuel, 29, Hoboken, N.J.*
Hugo Sanay-Perafiel, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Alva Jeffries Sanchez, 41, Hempstead, N.Y.*
Jacquelyn P. Sanchez, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Erick Sanchez, 43, New York, N.Y.
Eric Sand, 36, Westchester, N.Y.*
Stacey Leigh Sanders, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Herman Sandler, 57, New York, N.Y.*
James Sands, 39, Bricktown, N.J.*
Ayleen J. Santiago, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Kirsten Santiago, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Maria Theresa Santillan, 27, Morris Plains, N.J.*
Susan G. Santo, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Santora, 23, New York, N.Y.*
John Santore, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Mario L. Santoro, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Rafael Humberto Santos, 42, New York, N.Y.
Rufino Conrado F. (Roy) Santos, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Kalyan K. Sarkar, 53, Westwood, N.J.*
Chapelle Sarker, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Paul F. Sarle, 38, Babylon, N.Y.*
Deepika Kumar Sattaluri, 33, Edison, N.J.*
Gregory Thomas Saucedo, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Susan Sauer, 48, Chicago, Ill.*
Anthony Savas, 72, New York, N.Y.*
Vladimir Savinkin, 21, New York, N.Y.*
John Sbarbaro, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Robert L. Scandole, 36, Pelham Manor, N.Y.*
Michelle Scarpitta, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Dennis Scauso, 46, Dix Hills, N.Y.*
John A. Schardt, 34, New York, N.Y.*
John G. Scharf, 29, Manorville, N.Y.*
Fred Claude Scheffold, 57, Piermont, N.Y.*
Angela Susan Scheinberg, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Scott M. Schertzer, 28, Edison, N.J.*
Sean Schielke, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Francis Schlag, 41, Franklin Lakes, N.J.*
Jon S. Schlissel, 51, Jersey City, N.J.*
Karen Helene Schmidt, 42, Bellmore, N.Y.
Ian Schneider, 45, Short Hills, N.J.*
Thomas G. Schoales, 27, Stony Point, N.Y.*
Marisa Di Nardo Schorpp, 38, White Plains, N.Y.*
Frank G. Schott, 39, Massapequa Park, N.Y.*
Gerard P. Schrang, 45, Holbrook, N.Y.*
Jeffrey Schreier, 48, New York, N.Y.*
John T. Schroeder, 31, Hoboken, N.J.*
Susan Lee Kennedy Schuler, 55, Allentown, N.J.*
Edward W. Schunk, 54, Baldwin, N.Y.*
Mark E. Schurmeier, 44, McLean, Va.*
Clarin Shellie Schwartz, 51, New York, N.Y.*
John Schwartz, 49, Goshen, Conn.*
Mark Schwartz, 50, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Adriane Victoria Scibetta, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Raphael Scorca, 61, Beachwood, N.J.*
Randolph Scott, 48, Stamford, Conn.*
Christopher J. Scudder, 34, Monsey, N.Y.*
Arthur Warren Scullin, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Seaman, 41, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Margaret Seeliger, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Carlos Segarra, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony Segarra, 52, New York, N.Y.
Jason Sekzer, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew Carmen Sellitto, 23, Morristown, N.J.*
Howard Selwyn, 47, Hewlett, N.Y.*
Larry John Senko, 34, Yardley, Pa.*
Arturo Angelo Sereno, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Frankie Serrano, 23, Elizabeth, N.J.*
Alena Sesinova, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Adele Sessa, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Sita Nermalla Sewnarine, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Karen Lynn Seymour-Dietrich, 40, Millington, N.J.*
Davis (Deeg) Sezna, 22, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Joseph Sgroi, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Jayesh Shah, 38, Edgewater, N.J.*
Khalid M. Shahid, 25, Union, N.J.*
Mohammed Shajahan, 41, Spring Valley, N.Y.*
Gary Shamay, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Earl Richard Shanahan, 50, New York, N.Y.
Shiv Shankar, New York, N.Y.
Neil G. Shastri, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Kathryn Anne Shatzoff, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Barbara A. Shaw, 57, Morris Township, N.J.*
Jeffrey J. Shaw, 42, Levittown, N.Y.*
Robert J. Shay, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel James Shea, 37, Pelham Manor, N.Y.
Joseph Patrick Shea, 47, Pelham, N.Y.
Linda Sheehan, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Hagay Shefi, 34, Tenafly, N.J.*
John Anthony Sherry, 34, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Atsushi Shiratori, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Shubert, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Mark Shulman, 47, Old Bridge, N.J.*
See-Wong Shum, 44, Westfield, N.J.*
Allan Shwartzstein, 37, Chappaqua, N.Y.*
Johanna Sigmund, 25, Wyndmoor, Pa.*
Dianne T. Signer, 32, New York, N.Y.
Gregory Sikorsky, 34, Spring Valley, N.Y.*
Stephen Gerard Siller, 34, West Brighton, N.Y.*
David Silver, 35, New Rochelle, N.Y.*
Craig A. Silverstein, 41, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Nasima H. Simjee, 38, New York, N.Y.
Bruce Edward Simmons, 41, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Arthur Simon, 57, Thiells, N.Y.*
Kenneth Alan Simon, 34, Secaucus, N.J.
Michael John Simon, 40, Harrington Park, N.J.*
Paul Joseph Simon, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Marianne Simone, 62, New York, N.Y.*
Barry Simowitz, 64, New York, N.Y.*
Jeff Simpson, 38, Lake Ridge, Va.*
Roshan R. (Sean) Singh, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Khamladai K. (Khami) Singh, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas E. Sinton, 44, Croton-on-hudson, N.Y.*
Peter A. Siracuse, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Muriel F. Siskopoulos, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph M. Sisolak, 35, New York, N.Y.*
John P. Skala, 31, Clifton, N.J.*
Francis J. Skidmore, 58, Mendham, N.J.*
Toyena Corliss Skinner, 27, Kingston, N.J.*
Paul A. Skrzypek, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Christopher Paul Slattery, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Vincent R. Slavin, 41, Belle Harbor, N.Y.*
Robert Sliwak, 42, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Paul K. Sloan, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Stanley S. Smagala, 36, Holbrook, N.Y.*
Wendy L. Small, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Catherine T. Smith, 44, West Haverstraw, N.Y.*
Daniel Laurence Smith, 47, Northport, N.Y.*
George Eric Smith, 38, West Chester, Pa.*
James G. Smith, 43, Garden City, N.Y.
Joyce Smith, 55, New York, N.Y.
Karl Trumbull Smith, 44, Little Silver, N.J.*
Kevin Smith, 47, Mastic, N.Y.*
Leon Smith, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Moira Smith, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Rosemary A. Smith, 61, New York, N.Y.
Sandra Fajardo Smith, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Jeffrey Randall Smith, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Bonnie S. Smithwick, 54, Quogue, N.Y.
Rochelle Monique Snell, 24, Mount Vernon, N.Y.*
Leonard J. Snyder, 35, Cranford, N.J.*
Astrid Elizabeth Sohan, 32, Freehold, N.J.*
Sushil Solanki, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Ruben Solares, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Naomi Leah Solomon, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel W. Song, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Michael C. Sorresse, 34, Morris Plains, N.J.*
Fabian Soto, 31, Harrison, N.J.*
Timothy P. Soulas, 35, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Gregory T. Spagnoletti, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Donald F. Spampinato, 39, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Thomas Sparacio, 35, New York, N.Y.
John Anthony Spataro, 32, Mineola, N.Y.*
Robert W. Spear, 30, Valley Cottage, N.Y.*
Maynard S. Spence, 42, Douglasville, Ga.*
George E. Spencer, 50, West Norwalk, Conn.*
Robert Andrew Spencer, 35, Red Bank, N.J.*
Mary Rubina Sperando, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Frank J. Spinelli, 44, Short Hills, N.J.*
William E. Spitz, 49, Oceanside, N.Y.*
Joseph P. Spor, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.*
Klaus Johannes Sprockamp, 42, Muhltal, Germany*
Saranya Srinuan, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Michael F. Stabile, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Lawrence T. Stack, 58, Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.*
Capt. Timothy Stackpole, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Richard James Stadelberger, 55, Middletown, N.J.*
Eric A. Stahlman, 43, Holmdel Township, N.J.*
Gregory M. Stajk, 46, Long Beach, N.Y.*
Corina Stan, 31, Middle Village, N.Y.*
Alexandru Liviu Stan, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Mary D. Stanley, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Joyce Stanton
Patricia Stanton
Anthony M. Starita, 35, Westfield, N.J.*
Jeffrey Stark, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Derek James Statkevicus, 30, Norwalk, Conn.*
Craig William Staub, 30, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
William V. Steckman, 56, West Hempstead, N.Y.*
Eric Thomas Steen, 32, New York, N.Y.*
William R. Steiner, 56, New Hope, Pa.*
Alexander Robbins Steinman, 32, Hoboken, N.J.*
Andrew Stergiopoulos, 23, New York, N.Y.
Andrew Stern, 41, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Martha Jane Stevens, 55, New York, N.Y.
Richard H. Stewart, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Michael James Stewart, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Sanford M. Stoller, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Lonny J. Stone, 43, Bellmore, N.Y.*
Jimmy Nevill Storey, 58, Katy, Texas*
Timothy Stout, 42, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.*
Thomas S. Strada, 41, Chatham, N.J.*
James J. Straine, 36, Oceanport, N.J.*
Edward W. Straub, 48, Morris Township, N.J.*
George Strauch, 53, Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J.*
Edward T. Strauss, 44, Edison, N.J.*
Steven R. Strauss, 51, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.*
Steven F. Strobert, 33, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Walwyn W. Stuart, 28, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Benjamin Suarez, 36, New York, N.Y.*
David S. Suarez, 24, Princeton, N.J.*
Ramon Suarez, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Yoichi Sugiyama, 34, Fort Lee, N.J.
William Christopher Sugra, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Daniel Suhr, 37, Nesconset, N.Y.*
David Marc Sullins, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Christopher P. Sullivan, 38, Massapequa, N.Y.*
Patrick Sullivan, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Sullivan, 38, Kearney, N.J.*
Hilario Soriano (Larry) Sumaya, 42, New York, N.Y.*
James Joseph Suozzo, 47, Hauppauge, N.Y.*
Colleen Supinski, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Sutcliffe, 39, Huntington, N.Y.*
Selina Sutter, 63, New York, N.Y.*
Claudia Suzette Sutton, 34, New York, N.Y.*
John F. Swaine, 36, Larchmont, N.Y.
Kristine M. Swearson, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Brian Edward Sweeney, 29, Merrick, N.Y.*
Kenneth J. Swensen, 40, Chatham, N.J.*
Thomas F. Swift, 30, Jersey City, N.J.*
Derek O. Sword, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Kevin T. Szocik, 27, Garden City, N.Y.
Gina Sztejnberg, 52, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Norbert P. Szurkowski, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Harry Taback, 56, New York, N.Y.*
Joann Tabeek, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Norma C. Taddei, 64, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Taddonio, 39, Huntington, N.Y.*
Keiji Takahashi, 42, Tenafly, N.J.*
Keiichiro Takahashi, 53, Port Washington, N.Y.*
Phyllis Gail Talbot, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Robert R. Talhami, 40, Shrewsbury, N.J.*
Sean Patrick Tallon, 26, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Paul Talty, 40, Wantagh, N.Y.*
Maurita Tam, 22, New York, N.Y.*
Rachel Tamares, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Hector Tamayo, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Andrew Tamuccio, 37, Pelham Manor, N.Y.*
Kenichiro Tanaka, 52, Rye Brook, N.Y.
Rhondelle Cherie Tankard, 31, Devonshire, Bermuda
Michael Anthony Tanner, 44, Secaucus, N.J.*
Dennis Gerard Taormina, 36, Montville, N.J.*
Kenneth Joseph Tarantino, 39, Bayonne, N.J.*
Allan Tarasiewicz, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Ronald Tartaro, 39, Bridgewater, N.J.
Darryl Taylor, 52, New York, N.Y.
Donnie Brooks Taylor, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Lorisa Ceylon Taylor, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Michael M. Taylor, 42, New York, N.Y.*
Paul A. Tegtmeier, 41, Hyde Park, N.Y.*
Yeshavant Moreshwar Tembe, 59, Piscataway, N.J.*
Anthony Tempesta, 38, Elizabeth, N.J.*
Dorothy Temple, 52, New York, N.Y.*
Stanley L. Temple, 77, New York, N.Y.
David Tengelin, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Brian J. Terrenzi, 29, Hicksville, N.Y.*
Lisa Marie Terry, 42, Rochester, Mich.*
Goumatie T. Thackurdeen, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Harshad Sham Thatte, 30, Norcross, Ga.*
Thomas F. Theurkauf, 44, Stamford, Conn.*
Lesley Anne Thomas, 40, Hoboken, N.J.
Brian T. Thompson, 49, Dix Hills, N.Y.*
Clive Thompson, 43, Summit, N.J.*
Glenn Thompson, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Perry Anthony Thompson, 36, Mount Laurel, N.J.*
Vanavah Alexi Thompson, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Capt. William Harry Thompson, 51, New York, N.Y.*
Nigel Bruce Thompson, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Eric Raymond Thorpe, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Nichola A. Thorpe, 22, New York, N.Y.*
Sal Tieri, 40, Shrewsbury, N.J.*
John Patrick Tierney, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Mary Ellen Tiesi, 38, Jersey City, N.J.*
William R. Tieste, 54, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
Kenneth F. Tietjen, 31, Matawan, N.J.*
Stephen Edward Tighe, 41, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Scott C. Timmes, 28, Ridgewood, N.Y.*
Michael E. Tinley, 56, Dallas, Texas*
Jennifer M. Tino, 29, Livingston, N.J.*
Robert Frank Tipaldi, 25, New York, N.Y.*
John J. Tipping, 33, Port Jefferson, N.Y.*
David Tirado, 26, New York, N.Y.
Hector Luis Tirado, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Michelle Titolo, 34, Copiague, N.Y.*
John J. Tobin, 47, Kenilworth, N.J.
Richard J. Todisco, 61, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Vladimir Tomasevic, 36, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada*
Stephen K. Tompsett, 39, Garden City, N.Y.*
Thomas Tong, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Azucena de la Torre, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Doris Torres, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Luis Eduardo Torres, 31, New York, N.Y.*
Amy E. Toyen, 24, Newton, Mass.*
Christopher M. Traina, 25, Bricktown, N.J.*
Daniel Patrick Trant, 40, Northport, N.Y.*
Abdoul Karim Traore, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Glenn J. Travers, 53, Tenafly, N.J.*
Walter (Wally) P. Travers, 44, Upper Saddle River, N.J.*
Felicia Traylor-Bass, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Lisa L. Trerotola, 38, Hazlet, N.J.*
Karamo Trerra, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Trinidad, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Francis Joseph Trombino, 68, Clifton, N.J.*
Gregory J. Trost, 26, New York, N.Y.*
William Tselepis, 33, New Providence, N.J.*
Zhanetta Tsoy, 32, Jersey City, N.J.*
Michael Patrick Tucker, 40, Rumson, N.J.*
Lance Richard Tumulty, 32, Bridgewater, N.J.*
Ching Ping Tung, 44, New York, N.Y.
Simon James Turner, 39, London, England*
Donald Joseph Tuzio, 51, Goshen, N.Y.*
Robert T. Twomey, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Jennifer Tzemis, 26, New York, N.Y.*
John G. Ueltzhoeffer, 36, Roselle Park, N.J.*
Tyler V. Ugolyn, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Michael A. Uliano, 42, Aberdeen, N.J.*
Jonathan J. Uman, 33, Westport, Conn.*
Anil Shivhari Umarkar, 34, Hackensack, N.J.*
Allen V. Upton, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Diane Maria Urban, 50, Malverne, N.Y.*
John Damien Vaccacio, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Bradley H. Vadas, 37, Westport, Conn.*
William Valcarcel, 54, New York, N.Y.*
Mayra Valdes-Rodriguez, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Felix Antonio Vale, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Ivan Vale, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Santos Valentin, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Benito Valentin, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Manuel Del Valle, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Carlton Francis Valvo, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Edward Raymond Vanacore, 29, Jersey City, N.J.*
Jon C. Vandevander, 44, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Frederick T. Varacchi, 35, Greenwich, Conn.*
Gopalakrishnan Varadhan, 32, New York, N.Y.*
David Vargas, 46, New York, N.Y.*
Scott C. Vasel, 32, Park Ridge, N.J.*
Santos Vasquez, 55, New York, N.Y.
Azael Ismael Vasquez, 21, New York, N.Y.*
Arcangel Vazquez, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Peter Anthony Vega, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Sankara S. Velamuri, 63, Avenel, N.J.*
Jorge Velazquez, 47, Passaic, N.J.*
Lawrence Veling, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Anthony M. Ventura, 41, Middletown, N.J.
David Vera, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Loretta A, Vero, 51, Nanuet, N.Y.
Christopher Vialonga, 30, Demarest, N.J.*
Matthew Gilbert Vianna, 23, Manhasset, N.Y.*
Robert A. Vicario, 40, Weehawken, N.J.*
Celeste Torres Victoria, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Joanna Vidal, 26, Yonkers, N.Y.*
John T. Vigiano, 36, West Islip, N.Y.*
Joseph Vincent Vigiano, 34, Medford, N.Y.*
Frank J. Vignola, 44, Merrick, N.Y.*
Joseph B. Vilardo, 44, Stanhope, N.J.
Sergio Villanueva, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Chantal Vincelli, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Melissa Vincent, 28, Hoboken, N.J.*
Francine A. Virgilio, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Lawrence Virgilio, 38*
Joseph G. Visciano, 22, New York, N.Y.*
Joshua S. Vitale, 28, Great Neck, N.Y.*
Maria Percoco Vola, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Lynette D. Vosges, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Garo H. Voskerijian, 43, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Alfred Vukosa, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Gregory Wachtler, 25, Ramsey, N.J.*
Gabriela Waisman, 33, New York, N.Y.*
Wendy Alice Rosario Wakeford, 40, Freehold, N.J.*
Courtney Wainsworth Walcott, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Victor Wald, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Benjamin Walker, 41, Suffern, N.Y.
Glen J. Wall, 38, Rumson, N.J.*
Mitchel Scott Wallace, 34, Mineola, N.Y.*
Lt. Robert F. Wallace, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Roy Michael Wallace, 42, Wyckoff, N.J.*
Peter G. Wallace, 66, Lincoln Park, N.J.*
Jean Marie Wallendorf, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Matthew Blake Wallens, 31, New York, N.Y.*
John Wallice, 43, Huntington, N.Y.*
Barbara P. Walsh, 59, New York, N.Y.*
James Walsh, 37, Scotch Plains, N.J.*
Jeffrey Patrick Walz, 37, Tuckahoe, N.Y.*
Ching H. Wang, 59, New York, N.Y.
Weibin Wang, 41, Orangeburg, N.Y.*
Lt. Michael Warchola, 51, Middle Village, N.Y.*
Stephen Gordon Ward, 33, Gorham, Maine*
James A. Waring, 49, New York, N.Y.*
Brian G. Warner, 32, Morganville, N.J.*
Derrick Washington, 33, Calverton, N.Y.*
Charles Waters, 44, New York, N.Y.*
James Thomas (Muddy) Waters, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Capt. Patrick J. Waters, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Kenneth Watson, 39, Smithtown, N.Y.*
Michael H. Waye, 38, Morganville, N.J.*
Walter E. Weaver, 30, Centereach, N.Y.*
Todd C. Weaver, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Nathaniel Webb, 56, Jersey City, N.J.*
Dinah Webster, 50, Port Washington, N.Y.*
Joanne Flora Weil, 39, New York, N.Y.*
Michael Weinberg, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Weinberg, 41, New City, N.Y.*
Scott Jeffrey Weingard, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Steven Weinstein, 50, New York, N.Y.
Simon Weiser, 65, New York, N.Y.*
David T. Weiss, 50, New York, N.Y.
David M. Weiss, 41, Maybrook, N.Y.*
Vincent Michael Wells, 22, Redbridge, England*
Timothy Matthew Welty, 34, Yonkers, N.Y.*
Christian Hans Rudolf Wemmers, 43, San Francisco, Calif.*
Ssu-Hui (Vanessa) Wen, 23, New York, N.Y.*
Oleh D. Wengerchuk, 56, Centerport, N.Y.*
Peter M. West, 54, Pottersville, N.J.*
Whitfield West, 41, New York, N.Y.
Meredith Lynn Whalen, 23, Hoboken, N.J.*
Eugene Whelan, 31, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.*
John S. White, 48, New York, N.Y.*
Edward James White, 30, New York, N.Y.*
James Patrick White, 34, Hoboken, N.J.*
Kenneth W. White, 50, New York, N.Y.*
Leonard Anthony White, 57, New York, N.Y.*
Malissa White, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Wayne White, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Adam S. White, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Leanne Marie Whiteside, 31, New York, N.Y.
Mark Whitford, 31, Salisbury Mills, N.Y.*
Michael T. Wholey, 34, Westwood, N.J.*
Mary Lenz Wieman, 43, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Jeffrey David Wiener, 33, New York, N.Y.*
William J. Wik, 44, Crestwood, N.Y.*
Alison Marie Wildman, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, 46, Bayport, N.Y.*
John C. Willett, 29, Jersey City, N.J.*
Brian Patrick Williams, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Crossley Williams, 28, Uniondale, N.Y.*
David Williams, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Deborah Lynn Williams, 35, Hoboken, N.J.*
Kevin Michael Williams, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Louis Calvin Williams, 53, Mandeville, La.
Louie Anthony Williams, 44, New York, N.Y.*
Lt. John Williamson, 46, Warwick, N.Y.*
Donna Wilson, 48, Williston Park, N.Y.*
William E. Wilson, 58, New York, N.Y.*
Cynthia Wilson, 52, New York, N.Y.*
David H. Winton, 29, New York, N.Y.*
Glenn J. Winuk, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas Francis Wise, 43, New York, N.Y.*
Alan L. Wisniewski, 47, Howell, N.J.*
Frank T. Wisniewski, 54, Basking Ridge, N.J.*
David Wiswall, 54, North Massapequa, N.Y.*
Sigrid Charlotte Wiswe, 41, New York, N.Y.*
Michael R. Wittenstein, 34, Hoboken, N.J.*
Christopher W. Wodenshek, 35, Ridgewood, N.J.*
Martin P. Wohlforth, 47, Greenwich, Conn.*
Katherine S. Wolf, 40, New York, N.Y.*
Jenny Seu Kueng Low Wong, 25, New York, N.Y.*
Jennifer Y. Wong, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Siu Cheung Wong, 34, Jersey City, N.J.*
Yin Ping (Steven) Wong, 34, New York, N.Y.*
Yuk Ping Wong, 47, New York, N.Y.*
Brent James Woodall, 31, Oradell, N.J.*
James J. Woods, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Patrick Woods, 36, New York, N.Y.*
Richard Herron Woodwell, 44, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.
Capt. David Terence Wooley, 54, Nanuet, N.Y.*
John Bentley Works, 36, Darien, Conn.
Martin Michael Wortley, 29, Park Ridge, N.J.*
Rodney James Wotton, 36, Middletown, N.J.*
William Wren, 61, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
John Wright, 33, Rockville Centre, N.Y.*
Neil R. Wright, 30, Asbury, N.J.*
Sandra Wright, 57, Langhorne, Pa.*
Jupiter Yambem, 41, Beacon, N.Y.*
Suresh Yanamadala, 33, Plainsboro, N.J.*
Matthew David Yarnell, 26, Jersey City, N.J.*
Myrna Yaskulka, 59, New York, N.Y.*
Shakila Yasmin, 26, New York, N.Y.*
Olabisi L. Yee, 38, New York, N.Y.*
Edward P. York, 45, Wilton, Conn.
Kevin Patrick York, 41, Princeton, N.J.*
Raymond York, 45, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Suzanne Youmans, 60, New York, N.Y.*
Jacqueline (Jakki) Young, 37, New York, N.Y.*
Barrington L. Young, 35, New York, N.Y.*
Elkin Yuen, 32, New York, N.Y.*
Joseph Zaccoli, 39, Valley Stream, N.Y.*
Adel Agayby Zakhary, 50, North Arlington, N.J.*
Arkady Zaltsman, 45, New York, N.Y.*
Edwin J. Zambrana, 24, New York, N.Y.*
Robert Alan Zampieri, 30, Saddle River, N.J.*
Mark Zangrilli, 36, Pompton Plains, N.J.*
Ira Zaslow, 55, North Woodmere, N.Y.*
Kenneth Albert Zelman, 37, Succasunna, N.J.*
Abraham J. Zelmanowitz, 55, New York, N.Y.*
Martin Morales Zempoaltecatl, 22, New York, N.Y.*
Zhe (Zack) Zeng, 28, New York, N.Y.*
Marc Scott Zeplin, 33, Harrison, N.Y.*
Jie Yao Justin Zhao, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Ivelin Ziminski, 40, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Michael Joseph Zinzi, 37, Newfoundland, N.J.*
Charles A. Zion, 54, Greenwich, Conn.*
Julie Lynne Zipper, 44, Paramus, N.J.
Salvatore J. Zisa, 45, Hawthorne, N.J.*
Prokopios Paul Zois, 46, Lynbrook, N.Y.*
Joseph J. Zuccala, 54, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.*
Andrew Steven Zucker, 27, New York, N.Y.*
Igor Zukelman, 29, New York, N.Y.*

AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 11,
from Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles, California, crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center with 92 people on board.

CREW
Barbara Arestegui, 38, Marstons Mills, Massachusetts*
Jeffrey Collman, 41, Novato, Calif.*
Sara Low, 28, Batesville, Arkansas*
Karen A. Martin, 40, Danvers, Mass.*
First Officer Thomas McGuinness, 42, Portsmouth, New Hampshire*
Kathleen Nicosia, 54, Winthrop, Mass.*
John Ogonowski, 52, Dracut, Massachusetts*
Betty Ong, 45, Andover, Massachusetts*
Jean Roger, 24, Longmeadow, Massachusetts*
Dianne Snyder, 42, Westport, Massachusetts*
Madeline Sweeney, 35, Acton, Massachusetts*

PASSENGERS
Anna Williams Allison, 48, Stoneham, Massachusetts*
David Angell, 54, Pasadena, California*
Lynn Angell, 45, Pasadena, California*
Seima Aoyama, 48, Culver City, Calif.
Myra Aronson, 52, Charlestown, Massachusetts*
Christine Barbuto, 32, Brookline, Massachusetts*
Carolyn Beug, 48, Los Angeles, California*
Kelly Ann Booms, 24, Brookline, Mass.*
Carol Bouchard, 43, Warwick, Rhode Island*
Neilie Anne Heffernan Casey, 32, Wellesley, Massachusetts*
Jeffrey Coombs, 42, Abington, Massachusetts*
Tara Creamer, 30, Worcester, Massachusetts*
Thelma Cuccinello, 71, Wilmot, New Hampshire*
Patrick Currivan, 52, Winchester, Mass.*
Brian Dale, 43, Warren, New Jersey*
David DiMeglio, 22, Wakefield, Mass.*
Donald Americo DiTullio, 49, Peabody, Mass.*
Albert Dominguez, 66, Sydney, Australia*
Paige Farley-Hackel, 46, Newton, Mass.*
Alex Filipov, 70, Concord, Massachusetts*
Carol Flyzik, 40, Plaistow, N.H.*
Paul Friedman, 45, Belmont, Massachusetts*
Karleton D.B. Fyfe, 31, Brookline, Massachusetts*
Peter Gay, 54, Tewksbury, Massachusetts*
Linda George, 27, Westboro, Massachusetts*
Edmund Glazer, 41, Los Angeles, California*
Lisa Fenn Gordenstein, 41, Needham, Massachusetts*
Andrew Peter Charles Curry Green, 34, Santa Monica, Calif.*
Peter Hashem, 40, Tewksbury, Massachusetts*
Robert Hayes, 37, from Amesbury, Massachusetts*
Edward (Ted) R. Hennessy, 35, Belmont, Mass.*
John A. Hofer, 45, Los Angeles, Calif.*
Cora Hidalgo Holland, 52, of Sudbury, Massachusetts*
Nicholas Humber, 60, of Newton, Massachusetts,
Waleed Iskandar, 34, London, England*
John Charles Jenkins, 45, Cambridge, Mass.*
Charles Edward Jones, 48, Bedford, Mass.*
Robin Kaplan, 33, Westboro, Massachusetts*
Barbara Keating, 72, Palm Springs, Calif.*
David P. Kovalcin, 42, Hudson, New Hampshire*
Judy Larocque, 50, Framingham, Mass.*
Natalie Janis Lasden, 46, Peabody, Mass.*
Daniel John Lee, 34, Van Nuys, Calif.*
Daniel C. Lewin, 31, Charlestown, Mass.*
Susan A. MacKay, 44, Westford, Massachusetts*
Christopher D. Mello, 25, Boston, Mass.*
Jeff Mladenik, 43, Hinsdale, Illinois*
Antonio Jesus Montoya Valdes, 46, East Boston, Mass.*
Carlos Alberto Montoya, 36, Bellmont, Mass.
Laura Lee Morabito, 34, Framingham, Massachusetts*
Mildred Rose Naiman, 81, Andover, Mass.*
Laurie Ann Neira, 48, Los Angeles, Calif.*
Renee Newell, 37, of Cranston, Rhode Island*
Jacqueline J. Norton, 61, Lubec, Maine*
Robert Grant Norton, 85, Lubec, Maine*
Jane M. Orth, 49, Haverhill, Mass.*
Thomas Pecorelli, 31, of Los Angeles, California*
Berinthia Berenson Perkins, 53, Los Angeles, Calif.*
Sonia Morales Puopolo, 58, of Dover, Massachusetts*
David E. Retik, 33, Needham, Mass.*
Philip M. Rosenzweig, 47, Acton, Mass.*
Richard Ross, 58, Newton, Massachusetts*
Jessica Sachs, 22, Billerica, Massachusetts*
Rahma Salie, 28, Boston, Mass.*
Heather Lee Smith, 30, Boston, Mass.*
Douglas J. Stone, 54, Dover, N.H*
Xavier Suarez, 41, Chino Hills, Calif.
Michael Theodoridis, 32, Boston, Mass.*
James Trentini, 65, Everett, Massachusetts*
Mary Trentini, 67, Everett, Massachusetts*
Pendyala Vamsikrishna, 30, Los Angeles, Calif.*
Mary Wahlstrom, 78, Kaysville, Utah*
Kenneth Waldie, 46, Methuen, Massachusetts*
John Wenckus, 46, Torrance, Calif.*
Candace Lee Williams, 20, Danbury, Conn.*
Christopher Zarba, 47, Hopkinton, Massachusetts*

AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 77,
from Washington to Los Angeles, crashed into the Pentagon with 64 people aboard.

CREW
Charles Burlingame, 51, Herndon, Va.*
David M. Charlebois, 39, Washington, D.C*
Michele Heidenberger, 57, Chevy Chase, Md.*
Jennifer Lewis, 38, Culpeper, Virginia*
Kenneth Lewis, 49, Culpeper, Virginia*
Renee A. May, 39, Baltimore, Md*

PASSENGERS
Paul Ambrose, 32, Washington, D.C.*
Yeneneh Betru, 35, Burbank, Calif*
Mary Jane (MJ) Booth, 64, Falls Church, Va.*
Bernard Curtis Brown, 11, Washington, D.C.*
Suzanne Calley, 42, San Martin, Calif.*
William Caswell, 54, Silver Spring, Md.*
Sarah Clark, 65, Columbia, Md.*
Zandra Cooper, Annandale, Va.*
Asia Cottom, 11, Washington, D.C.*
James Debeuneure, 58, Upper Marlboro, Md.*
Rodney Dickens, 11, Washington, D.C.*
Eddie Dillard, Alexandria, Va.*
Charles Droz, 52, Springfield, Va.*
Barbara G. Edwards, 58, Las Vegas, Nev.*
Charles S. Falkenberg, 45, University Park, Md.*
Zoe Falkenberg, 8, University Park, Md.*
Dana Falkenberg, 3, of University Park, Md.*
James Joe Ferguson, 39, Washington, D.C.*
Wilson "Bud" Flagg, 63, Millwood, Va.*
Darlene Flagg, 63, Millwood, Va.*
Richard Gabriel, 54, Great Falls, Va.*
Ian J. Gray, 55, Columbia, Md.*
Stanley Hall, 68, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.*
Bryan Jack, 48, Alexandria, Va.*
Steven D. Jacoby, 43, Alexandria, Va.*
Ann Judge, 49, Great Falls, Va.*
Chandler Keller, 29, El Segundo, Calif.*
Yvonne Kennedy, 62, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia*
Norma Khan, 45, Reston, Va.*
Karen A. Kincaid, 40, Washington, D.C.*
Dong Lee, 48, Leesburg, Va.*
Dora Menchaca, 45, of Santa Monica, Calif.*
Christopher Newton, 38, Anaheim, Calif.*
Barbara Olson, 45, Great Falls, Va*
Ruben Ornedo, 39, Los Angeles, Calif.*
Robert Penniger, 63, of Poway, Calif.*
Robert R. Ploger, 59, Annandale, Va.*
Lisa J. Raines, 42, Great Falls, Va.*
Todd Reuben, 40, Potomac, Maryland*
John Sammartino, 37, Annandale, Va.*
Diane Simmons, Great Falls, Va.*
George Simmons, Great Falls, Va.*
Mari-Rae Sopper, 35, Santa Barbara, Calif.*
Robert Speisman, 47, Irvington, N.Y*
Norma Lang Steuerle, 54, Alexandria, Va.*
Hilda E. Taylor, 62, Forestville, Md*
Leonard Taylor, 44, Reston, Va.*
Sandra Teague, 31, Fairfax, Va.*
Leslie A. Whittington, 45, University Park, Maryland.*
John D. Yamnicky, 71, Waldorf, Md.*
Vicki Yancey, 43, Springfield, Va.*
Shuyin Yang, 61, Beijing, China*
Yuguag Zheng, 65, Beijing, China*

UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 175,
from Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles, California, was the second hijacked plane to strike the World Trade Center, plowing into the south tower. Two pilots, seven flight attendants and 56 passengers were on board.

CREW
Robert Fangman, 33, Claymont, Del.*
Michael R. Horrocks, 38, Glen Mills, Pa.*
Amy N. Jarret, 28, North Smithfield, R.I.*
Amy R. King, 29, Stafford Springs, Conn.*
Kathryn L. LaBorie, 44, Providence, R.I.*
Alfred Gilles Padre Joseph Marchand, 44, Alamogordo, N.M.*
Capt. Victor Saracini, 51, Lower Makefield Township, Pa.*
Michael C. Tarrou, 38, Stafford Springs, Conn.*
Alicia Nicole Titus, 28, San Francisco, Calif.*

PASSENGERS
Alona Avraham, 30, Asdod, Israel.*
Garnet Edward (Ace) Bailey, 54, Lynnfield, Mass.*
Mark Bavis, 31, West Newton, Mass.*
Graham Andrew Berkeley, 37, Boston, Mass.*
Touri Bolourchi, 69, Beverly Hills, Calif.*
Klaus Bothe, 31, Linkenheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Daniel R. Brandhorst, 41, Los Angeles, Calif*
David Reed Gamboa Brandhorst, 3, Los Angeles, Calif.*
John Brett Cahill, 56, Wellesley, Mass.*
Christoffer Carstanjen, 33, Turner Falls, Mass.*
John (Jay) J. Corcoran, 43, Norwell, Mass*
Dorothy Alma DeAraujo, 80, Long Beach, Calif.*
Ana Gloria Pocasangre de Barrera, 49, San Salvador, El Salvador*
Lisa Frost, 22, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.*
Ronald Gamboa, 33, Los Angeles, Calif.*
Lynn Catherine Goodchild, 25, Attleboro, Mass.*
Peter Morgan Goodrich, 33, Sudbury, Mass.*
Douglas A. Gowell, 52, Methuen, Mass.*
The Rev. Francis E. Grogan, 76, of Easton, Mass.*
Carl Max Hammond, 37, Derry, N.H.*
Peter Hanson, 32, Groton, Mass.*
Sue Kim Hanson, 35, Groton, Mass.*
Christine Lee Hanson, 2, Groton, Mass.*
Gerald F. Hardacre, 61, Carlsbad, Calif.
Eric Samadikan Hartono, 20, Boston, Mass.*
James E. Hayden, 47, Westford, Mass.*
Herbert W. Homer, 48, Milford, Mass.
Robert Adrien Jalbert, 61, Swampscott, Mass.*
Ralph Francis Kershaw, 52, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.*
Heinrich Kimmig, 43, Willstaett, Germany
Brian Kinney, 29, Lowell, Mass.*
Robert George LeBlanc, 70, Lee, N.H.*
Maclovio Lopez, Jr., 41, Norwalk, Calif.*
Marianne MacFarlane, MacFarlane, 34, Revere, Mass.*
Louis Neil Mariani, 59, Derry, N.H.*
Juliana Valentine McCourt, 4, New London, Conn.*
Ruth Magdaline McCourt, 45, New London, Conn.*
Wolfgang Peter Menzel, 59, Wilhelmshaven, Germany*
Shawn M. Nassaney, 25, Pawtucket, R.I.*
Marie Pappalardo, 53, Paramount, Calif.*
Patrick Quigley, 40, of Wellesley, Mass.*
Frederick Charles Rimmele, 32, Marblehead, Mass.*
James M. Roux, 43, Portland, Maine*
Jesus Sanchez, 45, Hudson, Mass.*
Mary Kathleen Shearer, 61, Dover, N.H.*
Robert Michael Shearer, 63, Dover, N.H.*
Jane Louise Simpkin, 36, Wayland, Mass.*
Brian D. Sweeney, 38, Barnstable, Mass.*
Timothy Ward, 38, San Diego, Calif.*
William M. Weems, 46, Marblehead, Mass.*

UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93,
from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California, crashed in rural southwest Pennsylvania, with 45 people on board.

CREW
Lorraine G. Bay, 58, East Windsor, N.J.*
Sandra W. Bradshaw, 38, Greensboro, N.C.*
Jason Dahl, 43, Denver, Colo.*
Wanda Anita Green, 49, Linden, N.J.*
Leroy Homer, 36, Marlton, N.J.*
CeeCee Lyles, 33, Fort Myers, Fla.*
Deborah Welsh, 49, New York, N.Y.*

PASSENGERS
Christian Adams, 37, Biebelsheim, Germany*
Todd Beamer, 32, Cranbury, N.J.*
Alan Beaven, 48, Oakland, CA*
Mark K. Bingham, 31, San Francisco, Calif.*
Deora Frances Bodley, 20, San Diego, Calif.*
Marion Britton, 53, New York, N.Y.*
Thomas E. Burnett Jr., 38, San Ramon, Calif.*
William Cashman, 57, North Bergen, N.J.*
Georgine Rose Corrigan, 56, Honolulu, Hawaii*
Patricia Cushing, 69, Bayonne, N.J.*
Joseph Deluca, 52, Ledgewood, N.J.*
Patrick Joseph Driscoll, 70, Manalapan, N.J.*
Edward P. Felt, 41, Matawan, N.J.*
Jane C. Folger, 73, Bayonne, N.J.*
Colleen Laura Fraser, 51, Elizabeth, N.J.*
Andrew Garcia, 62, Portola Valley, Calif.*
Jeremy Glick, 31, Hewlett, N.J.*
Lauren Grandcolas, 38, San Rafael, Calif.*
Donald F. Greene, 52, Greenwich, Conn.*
Linda Gronlund, 46, Warwick, N.Y.*
Richard Guadagno, 38, of Eureka, Calif.*
Toshiya Kuge, 20, Nishimidoriguoska, Japan*
Hilda Marcin, 79, Budd Lake, N.J.*
Nicole Miller, 21, San Jose, Calif.*
Louis J. Nacke, 42, New Hope, Pa.*
Donald Arthur Peterson, 66, Spring Lake, N.J.*
Jean Hoadley Peterson, 55, Spring Lake, N.J.*
Waleska Martinez Rivera, 37, Jersey City, N.J.*
Mark Rothenberg, 52, Scotch Plains, N.J.*
Christine Snyder, 32, Kailua, Hawaii*
John Talignani, 72, New York, N.Y.*
Honor Elizabeth Wainio, 27, Watchung, N.J.*
Olga Kristin Gould White, 65, New York, N.Y.*

PENTAGON

Spc. Craig Amundson, 28, Fort Belvoir, Va.*
Melissa Rose Barnes, 27, Redlands, Calif.*
(Retired) Master Sgt. Max Beilke, 69, Laurel, Md.*
Kris Romeo Bishundat, 23, Waldorf, Md.*
Carrie Blagburn, 48, Temple Hills, Md.*
Lt. Col. Canfield D. Boone, 54, Clifton, Va.*
Donna Bowen, 42, Waldorf, Md.*
Allen Boyle, 30, Fredericksburg, Va.*
Christopher Lee Burford, 23, Hubert, N.C.*
Daniel Martin Caballero, 21, Houston, Texas*
Sgt. 1st Class Jose Orlando Calderon-Olmedo, 44, Annandale, Va.*
Angelene C. Carter, 51, Forrestville, Md.*
Sharon Carver, 38, Waldorf, Md.*
John J. Chada, 55, Manassas, Va.*
Rosa Maria (Rosemary) Chapa, 64, Springfield, Va.*
Julian Cooper, 39, Springdale, Md.*
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford, 32, Drexel, N.C.
Ada M. Davis, 57, Camp Springs, Md.*
Capt. Gerald Francis Deconto, 44, Sandwich, Mass.*
Lt. Col. Jerry Don Dickerson, 41, Durant, Miss.*
Johnnie Doctor, 32, Jacksonville, Fla.*
Capt. Robert Edward Dolan, 43, Alexandria, Va.*
Cmdr. William Howard Donovan, 37, Nunda, N.Y.*
Cmdr. Patrick S. Dunn, 39, Springfield, Va.*
Edward Thomas Earhart, 26, Salt Lick, Ky.*
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Randolph Elseth, 37, Vestal, N.Y.*
Jamie Lynn Fallon, 23, Woodbridge, Va.*
Amelia V. Fields, 36, Dumfries, Va.*
Gerald P. Fisher, 57, Potomac, Md.*
Matthew Michael Flocco, 21, Newark, Del.*
Sandra N. Foster, 41, Clinton, Md.*
Capt. Lawrence Daniel Getzfred, 57, Elgin, Neb.*
Cortz Ghee, 54, Reisterstown, Md.*
Brenda C. Gibson, 59, Falls Church, Va.*
Ron Golinski, 60, Columbia, Md.*
Diane M. Hale-McKinzy, 38, Alexandria, Va.*
Carolyn B. Halmon, 49, Washington, D.C.*
Sheila Hein, 51, University Park, Md.*
Ronald John Hemenway, 37, Shawnee, Kan.*
Maj. Wallace Cole Hogan, 40, Fla.*
Jimmie Ira Holley, 54, Lanham, Md.*
Angela Houtz, 27, La Plata, Md.*
Brady K. Howell, 26, Arlington, Va.*
Peggie Hurt, 36, Crewe, Va.*
Lt. Col. Stephen Neil Hyland, 45, Burke, Va.*
Robert J. Hymel, 55, Woodbridge, Va.*
Sgt. Maj. Lacey B. Ivory, 43, Woodbridge, Va.*
Lt. Col. Dennis M. Johnson, 48, Port Edwards, Wis.*
Judith Jones, 53, Woodbridge, Va.*
Brenda Kegler, 49, Washington, D.C.*
Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, 31, Baton Rouge, La.*
David W. Laychak, 40, Manassas, Va.*
Samantha Lightbourn-Allen, 36, Hillside, Md.*
Maj. Steve Long, 39, Ga.*
James Lynch, 55, Manassas, Va.*
Terence M. Lynch, 49, Alexandria, Va.*
Nehamon Lyons, 30, Mobile, Ala.*
Shelley A. Marshall, 37, Marbury, Md.*
Teresa Martin, 45, Stafford, Va.*
Ada L. Mason, 50, Springfield, Va.*
Lt. Col. Dean E. Mattson, 57, Calif.*
Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude, 53, Fort Myer, Va.*
Robert J. Maxwell, 53, Manassas, Va.*
Molly McKenzie, 38, Dale City, Va.*
Patricia E. (Patti) Mickley, 41, Springfield, Va.*
Maj. Ronald D. Milam, 33, Washington, D.C.*
Gerard (Jerry) P. Moran, 39, Upper Marlboro, Md.*
Odessa V. Morris, 54, Upper Marlboro, Md.*
Brian Anthony Moss, 34, Sperry, Okla.*
Ted Moy, 48, Silver Spring, Md.*
Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Jude Murphy, 38, Flossmoor, Ill.
Khang Nguyen, 41, Fairfax, Va.*
Michael Allen Noeth, 30, New York, N.Y.*
Diana Borrero de Padro, 55, Woodbridge, Va.*
Spc. Chin Sun Pak, 25, Lawton, Okla.*
Lt. Jonas Martin Panik, 26, Mingoville, Pa.*
Maj. Clifford L. Patterson, 33, Alexandria, Va.*
Lt. J.G. Darin Howard Pontell, 26, Columbia, Md.*
Scott Powell, 35, Silver Spring, Md.*
(Retired) Capt. Jack Punches, 51, Clifton, Va.*
Joseph John Pycior, 39, Carlstadt, N.J.*
Deborah Ramsaur, 45, Annandale, Va.*
Rhonda Rasmussen, 44, Woodbridge, Va.*
Marsha Dianah Ratchford, 34, Prichard, Ala.*
Martha Reszke, 36, Stafford, Va.*
Cecelia E. Richard, 41, Fort Washington, Md.*
Edward V. Rowenhorst, 32, Lake Ridge, Va.*
Judy Rowlett, 44, Woodbridge, Va.*
Robert E. Russell, 52, Oxon Hill, Md.*
William R. Ruth, 57, Mount Airy, Md.*
Charles E. Sabin, 54, Burke, Va.*
Marjorie C. Salamone, 53, Springfield, Va.*
Lt. Col. David M. Scales, 44, Cleveland, Ohio*
Cmdr. Robert Allan Schlegel, 38, Alexandria, Va.*
Janice Scott, 46, Springfield, Va.*
Michael L. Selves, 53, Fairfax, Va.*
Marian Serva, 47, Stafford, Va.*
Cmdr. Dan Frederic Shanower, 40, Naperville, Ill.*
Antoinette Sherman, 35, Forest Heights, Md.*
Don Simmons, 58, Dumfries, Va.*
Cheryle D. Sincock, 53, Dale City, Va.*
Gregg Harold Smallwood, 44, Overland Park, Kan.*
(Retired) Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith, 55, Alexandria, Va.*
Patricia J. Statz, 41, Takoma Park, Md.*
Edna L. Stephens, 53, Washington, D.C.*
Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland, 52, Woodbridge, Va.*
Maj. Kip P. Taylor, 38, McLean, Va.*
Sandra C. Taylor, 50, Alexandria, Va.*
Karl W. Teepe, 57, Centreville, Va.*
Sgt. Tamara Thurman, 25, Brewton, Ala.*
Lt. Cmdr. Otis Vincent Tolbert, 38, Lemoore, Calif.*
Willie Q. Troy, 51, Aberdeen, Md.*
Lt. Cmdr. Ronald James Vauk, 37, Nampa, Idaho*
Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, 40, Houston, Texas*
Meta L. Waller, 60, Alexandria, Va.*
Staff Sgt. Maudlyn A. White, 38, St. Croix, Virgin Islands*
Sandra L. White, 44, Dumfries, Va.*
Ernest M. Willcher, 62, North Potomac, Md.*
Lt. Cmdr. David Lucian Williams, 32, Newport, Ore.*
Maj. Dwayne Williams, 40, Jacksonville, Ala.*
Marvin R. Woods, 57, Great Mills, Md.*
Kevin Wayne Yokum, 27, Lake Charles, La.*
Donald McArthur Young, 41, Roanoke, Va.*
Lisa L. Young, 36, Germantown, Md.*
Edmond Young, 22, Owings, Md.*

Mr. and Mrs. Derek Webb

2006-09-05T20:49:00.000-05:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

This is a performance of Shelter by Sandra McCracken. This song is on Sandra's new CD Gravity | Love. Enjoy and support her music as well as Derek's.

Download Derek Webb's CD for Free

2006-09-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

As of September 1, you can download Derek Webb's newest CD, Mockingbird, for free. Derek Webb is a brilliant musician and a powerful artist in the Church today. He doesn't write the normal, fluffy, pious "Christian" music that you will hear on the "Christian" radio station. Instead he honestly presents the Gospel ad isn't afraid to step on any toes. His controversial music isn’t controversial for the sake of being controversial. His new album is called "Mockingbird" because of the title track. The song Mockingbird explains that Derek is simply repeating or "mocking" what he sees in Jesus. A mockingbird doesn't have an original call it always mocks. What Derek says in his new CD is important for the church to hear. This is why he is giving it away. So please go get it.

I have two links on my blog -- across the top right and in the side bar. or you can click here: http://www.freederekwebb.com/.

You have to enter 5 e-mail addresses. He promises that these e-mail addresses will not be misused. I trust Derek. You can feel free to use three of mine in order to get this great music (This is how much I love it and want you to have it):
Mail4ChrisR@aol.com
ElectChris@aol.com
PastorChrisR@aol.com

Then add two of your own to some people you know who love Jesus and quality music and you are on your way.

Please download and enjoy!

Sad

2006-08-28T11:01:00.000-05:00

Pastor claims church voted to reject black membership, resigns
8/26/2006 8:34:40 AM
Daily Journal of Northeastern Mississippi
BY CHARITY GORDON
Daily Journal
SALTILLO - A pastor who says his congregation voted not to accept black membership has resigned. The church says it never made such a decision.The Rev. John Stevens says Fellowship Baptist Church in Saltillo voted not to approve blacks as members during a scheduled Sunday night business meeting Aug. 6. Because of the decision, Stevens stepped down from the Baptist Missionary Alliance congregation that has an average Sunday morning attendance of 30 people. According to Stevens, the church made race an issue after a biracial 12-year-old boy, Joe, began attending Fellowship Baptist with his temporary guardians.The church was "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," Stevens said. "I could not go along with that. There would always be a wall between us, so I resigned that night."After the Daily Journal contacted Fellowship Baptist members, they gathered Aug. 17 to form a response. Mike Dillard, who acted as spokesperson for the church, said the congregation "categorically denies" accusations that the church took such a vote and feels the charge is an attempt by a party to do them harm.Family leavesAfter being told of the vote, Cliff Hardy, an officer with the Tupelo Police Department, left the church. He and his family had been going to Fellowship Baptist for about a year and had been praying about becoming members there."I was asking the Lord to lead us," Hardy said.The police officer says there are good people at Fellowship Baptist, and the Bible was preached there. However, "You see, my best friend is a black man," he said. "I wouldn't be comfortable going to a place where I couldn't ask my best friend to go to church with me."Hardy says he knows there are still a lot of folks who are not comfortable with people from other races - there is still a lot of holdover from the past, there is still a lot of fear."But that's not what Christ died for," he said. Jesus' death and resurrection "is supposed to be a uniting force, not a separating thing."We're all God's children'In July Joe moved in with his uncle and aunt, Saltillo residents Jason and Melinda Kirk. The Kirks, who had been attending Fellowship Baptist for almost five months, were Joe's temporary guardians until recently, when his stepmother moved here from Ohio. During the week of July 23-26, Fellowship Baptist held revival services, and on July 26, Joe became a Christian. The following Sunday, people at the church asked the Kirks if they would become members, and the family started praying about it.The next Sunday morning, Aug. 6, the Kirks went to Fellowship Baptist. When company arrived at their house that afternoon, they decided not to go to the church that night. Later that evening, the Kirks received a phone call from their pastor, Stevens, who said the church had voted not to accept black membership. The minister, 72, who has now retired, said he had resigned from the church over the decision.Joe overheard the telephone conversation."We explained to him that everybody didn't feel like that," Melinda Kirk said. "But it really bothered him. He felt like our pastor had to quit his job because of him." The Kirks reassured their nephew that Stevens was just standing up for what is right. "People have got to realize we're all God's children," Jason Kirk said. "It's not God so loved the white people; it's God so loved the world."Since Stevens' resignation, one church member who was not at the Aug. 6 meeting has called the former pastor and told him he was in favor of what he did. Stevens estimates 80 percent of the church is against having blacks as members of the congregation."It's between them and God," police officer Hardy said. "I love those folks, but I can't agree with them."Contact Daily Journal religion editor Charity Gordon at 678-1586 or charity.gordon@djournal.com

Stats about the community I serve

2006-08-28T01:24:00.000-05:00

What you need to know about the community of cornfields and an island between the rivers. This is from Wikipedia:
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,684 people, 7,604 households, and 4,737 families residing in the city. The population density was 920.1/km² (2,383.0/mi²). There were 8,026 housing units at an average density of 375.2/km² (971.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.79% White, 2.08% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.63% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.58% of the population.

There were 7,604 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,483, and the median income for a family was $40,497. Males had a median income of $28,785 versus $21,660 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,085. About 6.4% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

My Fantasy Football team

2006-08-27T18:38:00.000-05:00

This is the team I drafted for The Homeless. Perhaps a better name would be The Homers.
QB P Manning (IND)
RB L Jordan (OAK)
TE Dallas Clark (IND)
WR H Ward (STL)
WR R Wayne (IND)
WR TJ Houshmandzadeh (CIN)
WR Deon Branch (NE)
RB Corey Dillon (NE)
RB A Green (GB)
RB T Bell (DEN)
WR N. Burleson (SEA)
RB D. Williams (CAR)
WR J Jurevicius (CLE)
QB B Leftwich (JAC)
K J. Elam (DEN)
Def Pittsburgh

I think it was a pretty good draft all in all. Only mistake was Tatum Bell with about the 7th pick. What do ya think?

More than corn

2006-08-23T15:32:00.000-05:00

Tomato Juice was first served at a French Lick Hotel.

Full commitment to Jesus is costly

2006-08-21T09:02:00.000-05:00

It’s August and we are quickly winding down the end of the baseball season. For some, those who root for other teams, you may be pleased that this season is almost over. For others whose team would go to the playoffs if the season ended today are still excited about the remaining season. Suffice it to say that I am a big baseball fan. I love my Reds. But there are some things about baseball which drive me batty.

For example, one thing that drives me crazy is when these major league, multi-million-dollar-a-year players, are up to bat, get a ground ball, which is probably a routine play for some infielder, and so they just trot to first base. Maybe it is just because I was spoiled growing up watching those replays of real baseball players like Pete Rose, aka Charlie Hustle. Today, the only players hustling are those trying to make the squad and stay on the squad. But those players with the long-term contracts and multi-million dollar deals they get a hit and just walk down the line until they are called out. They already know they are getting their cash. They assume that they will be out before they get to first base so they don’t even put forth the effort.

Partial effort didn’t seem to exist in Jesus’ vocabulary. Partial faith was not an option. It is all or nothing for Jesus. Therefore, commitment is key.

One of the reasons we skip out, one of the reasons we settle for partial completion, for a job half-done, is that we don’t like the cost of full commitment. Now don’t get me wrong we do commit to some things. There are somethings, like our jobs or maybe our families, to which we are fully committed. But full commitment is still limited. Read these words from George Barna in his great book The Frog and the Kettle:
“Commitment is viewed negatively because it limits our ability to feel independent and free, to experience new things, to change our minds on the spur of the moment and to focus on self-gratification rather than helping others. People willingly make commitments only when the expected outcome exceeds what they must sacrifice as a result of that commitment.”

I think Barna is right. People make commitments only when what they will get is greater than what they have to put in. And when we think we aren’t getting our fair shake then we are quick to break our commitments and divide our loyalties. It certainly is true in many marriages these days. The minute something goes wrong, no fault divorce becomes an easier option than working toward full-commitment. Sometimes we say things like, “Well it just isn’t worth the time and effort.” So we settle for a partial commitment and we are satisfied with that.

But Jesus just doesn’t seem to be satisfied with partial commitments. Jesus demands our all. It is all or nothing and there is no in-between. The fact of the matter is we are always moving closer to God or further away from God, there is not standing still. We can just settle down in the middle and say, “Well, I have faith and I do this or I do that. And that is good enough.” Or we can’t say, “I’ve paid my dues. I have served on this and that and done this and that. So I will just step back now.” It doesn’t work that way. We can’t stay in the middle because the spirit is always moving. If we stop and the Spirit keeps moving then we are falling behind. So we are either moving closer to God, by being in God’s presence, by praying for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, by getting involved in the church or other ministries, or we are not doing those things and falling behind. Commitment is key and commitment involves a steep price.

Proverbs 4:7 states: “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.”

The Bible shapes us

2006-08-18T15:35:00.000-05:00

About 90% of us in this country own Bibles. And pollsters report that about 80% of the people say that the Bible is the most influential book in all literature.

We believe it is a sacred and influential book. We have it in our homes, and some of us actually read it. Maybe others of us assume that they know what the Bible has to say… after all they have grown up listening to it week after week. (pause) But in reality most people only know a few sayings or key ideas. For example, many people believe that the saying “God helps those who help themselves” is in the Bible but that is just a famous quote from Aesop’s fables. Or we hear the Scripture taken out of context and used as support for a debate. How many times have we heard some one say, “Judge not, lest you be judged” or “the poor will always be with us” during a debate or discussion. The problem isn’t knowing Scripture; The problem is not very many of us take it to heart.

The question we need to ask in regards to knowing Scripture is not “Do we believe it is Truth?” Even Satan believes in God… and I am sure Satan knows every word of Scripture better any one reading this blog. But the question is: Do we trust it enough to allow it to transform us? Or to ask it this way: Will we shape our lives by it?

Our limited knowledge of Bible trivia makes us Christians no more than knowing ninth grade Spanish or what we pick up from Dora the Explorer makes us Hispanic. The fact of the matter is… most people have almost no familiarity with the Bible or its teachings. We’re approaching a whole new level of illiteracy of the Bible. And when those people who think they know the Bible are coupled with the throngs who don’t know anything about the Bible then the faith of Jesus Christ is in deep, deep trouble. It is our responsibility as a Church to seek to change that, to make people hungry for God so that they will want to know what God’s Word has to say.

Bishop Mike on being "Dumped on"

2006-08-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

“Dumped On” – August 10, 2006

We were sitting at a lovely seaside restaurant in San Diego, looking forward to enjoying seafood, gazing at the sunset scenery of the harbor, and hearing the birds (pigeons and seagulls) chirp in the open air porch of that restaurant. Suddenly I heard and felt a “plop” on my shoulder, and I realized that a pigeon had landed on the light fixture overhead and had unceremoniously made an unwelcome deposit on me. Didn’t that pigeon know I am a bishop? Or perhaps the pigeon knew I am a bishop, and he was offering his evaluation!

Everyone around us, including the server and my wife Marsha and another diner at our table, rushed to help clean my shirt. The waitress apologized profusely, and the manager later arrived to make restitution for the damage to my shirt. Once everything settled down, we still enjoyed the lovely view (with the birds chased away), the meal, and the humor of it. But for a while there, I experienced first-hand what it means to be dumped on.

Have you ever been dumped on? Maybe not literally from a bird, but from other experiences in life? Have you ever been let down by someone you trusted? Have you ever been falsely or unfairly criticized? Have you ever been the topic of mean-spirited gossip? Have you ever experienced the discouragement of doing your best, but then hearing complaints that you did not do more? It is not much fun being dumped on, even if the event (like my experience) is funny.

How do you respond when you feel dumped on? In my case, I was forced to assess the situation to discern what had hit me. Since it was not a valuable contribution (and sometimes effective criticism is indeed a valuable contribution), I was glad to have it promptly brushed away. I had glad to rely upon the help of others, since I could not reach all of the deposit. And I felt some fairness in the restitution offered by the restaurant manager. But mostly, I just laughed, and went on with a delightful meal and evening with friends. That is not so easy to do in other situations when we dumped on, but it still may be the best answer.

One of my mentors, Bishop Woodie White, used to say to us in Cabinet meetings, “We should always take our ministry seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously.” Somehow having a pigeon dump on me was a good reminder not to take myself too seriously. So, I hope you are not often dumped on, but when it happens, I encourage you to laugh and to keep going.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner
Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ... in Indiana and around the world”
---------------

Having been dumped on recently, I hope I can take my Bishop's advice.

More Evangelical Pastors Refuse to Play Politics

2006-08-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

Not all evangelical churches willing to push political agendas
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Darrel Rowland - THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

This is the story of the protest that didn’t happen, the speech not given, the campaign never launched.

As political activity exploded among religious conservatives in recent years, a certain profile of a politically active church emerged:
Evangelical Christian. A growing megachurch, defined as more than 2,000 in attendance. Predominantly white. Loose or no denominational ties. Often located in suburbia, not far from an outerbelt.

Such churches and affiliated groups are under the microscope these days for their role in picking a president and possibly Ohio’s next governor.

What’s often lost is the fact that many evangelical Christians are uncomfortable with the increasing intermingling of religion and politics. In reality, a majority even of those churches that fit "the profile" intentionally remain on the political sidelines.

Why?

To find out, The Dispatch went to pastors at three central Ohio churches that in many ways mirror those active in politics yet have deliberately steered their churches clear of the partisan political arena.

Interestingly, Rich Nathan, senior pastor of the Columbus Vineyard, Jim Leffel, teaching pastor of Xenos Christian Fellowship, and Mike Smith, pastor of spiritual formation at Heritage Christian Church, encourage the 14,000 combined who attend their services to learn about and get involved in politics on an individual level.

But all three draw the line when it comes to partisan campaigning or involving the church as a whole in a political undertaking.

Smith, 40, who has been with Heritage for seven years, said, "When a person comes in and says, ‘Hey, I believe strongly about this, and I want to do something about it,’ The answer is, ‘Great! Do it!’

"The problem is when they want to … use the church as their pulpit."

Nathan, 50, pastor of the Vineyard since 1987, said, "We think the Gospel has political implications, but it’s not partisan. And we don’t think that either the Republicans or the Democrats have the sole possession of the implications of the Gospel."

Leffel, 48, who has been with Xenos for 16 years, said, "We’re very concerned that the white evangelical church in America is almost becoming … guilty of adding to the Gospel itself through social identity, namely (the) political right for the most part."

While these three might speak for a largely silent majority of evangelicals, their stance runs counter to the current trend across America, said John Green, director of the University of Akron’s Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics and a national expert on religion and politics.
"The pastors in this story are swimming against the tide of today’s highly polarized politics, which has been sweeping more and more ministers into politics because of issues with a strong moral imperative," he wrote in an e-mail.

"Many evangelical churches with all the characteristics that point to politics remain apolitical. And it is not an ‘either-or’ phenomenon. Many such churches are ‘just a little political.’ They might do a voterregistration drive once or only get involved in a really big issue, like same-sex marriage or the war."

Smith said allowing a member to use the church itself to advance a particular political cause, even if it’s one in which leaders believe, amounts to a bait and switch. Those attending are given the expectation that they’re going to hear about God and his word, not a list of things or people they should support or oppose.

Smith said Heritage faced a dilemma a couple of years ago when a member put leaflets on windshields in the church parking lot.

"Everybody came out of church and the assumption automatically is, ‘My church put this on here while I was in church,’ " he recalled. "It took us awhile to recover from that."
Nathan also raised the issue of mixed messages.

"We never want to communicate to somebody that comes here that they’ve got to go through two conversions in order to come to Christ," he said. "We don’t want to have somebody believe that first I must be converted politically from wherever I’m coming from politically, in order to then come through that to Christ."

Green said such views, a sort of "both Democrats and Republicans need Jesus," are common among evangelicals who avoid politics.

"This strongly implies that politics is secondary to faith, partly because politics passes away quickly and faith is eternal," the political-science professor said. "Many clergy with this view actually have strong political views, but they don’t think that politics should matter in the church."

Leffel pointed to today’s often harsh political battleground as potential source of unnecessary division within the church.

"We are mindful how polarized our culture is on political issues," he said.

Leffel said he isn’t afraid to challenge church members who go too far.

"Sometimes, there’s the smirky kind of language used against the other side. And when I hear that, I feel constrained to say, ‘That doesn’t really have a place here.’

"Or to characterize (Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted) Strickland as a theological liberal, and demonize in that way. I think that has happened in the broader evangelical church. And when I hear that in my church, I say that’s slander, and it’s wrong."

All three pastors say they agree with the "pro-life" and "pro-marriage" message of many politically involved churches. But they also see a mandate for other, broader issues that should be dealt with in the public square.

"I think it’s a mistake to have a political perspective that’s reduced to two issues: abortion and homosexuality," Nathan said.

"You know the Bible goes so far beyond those two issues. I think those are two very significant issues, but in terms of number of verses in the Bible or concerns that we find in the Sermon on the Mount, there’re just so many other concerns. And that also needs to shape the way that evangelicals engage politics."

More than Corn

2006-08-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

Red Skelton was born in Vincennes, Indiana.

Forgiving Mel Gibson

2006-08-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

In last Friday’s edition of our local newspaper, both syndicated columnists, Mona Charen and Mitch Albom, took their turns addressing the arrest and racially-charged profanity of actor/director Mel Gibson. Mitch Albom wrote in his column, Purgatory: Mel Gibson can find it by himself, “Despite what you might have heard last week, Mel Gibson is not Satan. He also is not God.” He would go on to write, “He is not savior. He is not God’s chosen messenger. He is another man walking the Earth who gets inflated to giant proportions because he makes movies and was once voted the sexiest man alive.” True, but this worldwide inflation has made Gibson a poster-boy for the Christian faith.

While making the most expensive and famous Jesus movie ever, Gibson knew that his celebrity status carried much wait in the public eye. The world was watching and waiting. So when Gibson was arrested, the enemies of both the Triune God and the Christian faith attacked. In one night he did something he never would have done in Braveheart or Lethal Weapon movies, he gave the enemy fresh ammunition.

Again Albom is right, Gibson is not God. That’s the point. God will let no one be greater than His son Jesus Christ. Consider all the great poster-children for the faith, Biblically and throughout our long history. Despite the high expectations of those who so publicly proclaim their faith, all of them fall and fail in some way. There is only one perfect poster-boy for the Christian faith and he died some 2000 years ago. All Christians, clergy, laity, and “Christian celebrities,” at one time or another will prove that another is still greater. I know I have made my share of mistakes.

No doubt, Gibson has embarrassed himself and the Lord he serves. Yet his reaction shows his faith and Christ-like compassion. Instead of using his over $850 million to get the best lawyers and experts, instead of arguing about the quality of breathalyzers, instead of debating the legal alcohol limit, he apologized. He has confessed his sin. He is making restitution to the people he offended. He is humbled.

So will we forgive? Forgiveness is a central discipline of the Christian faith. While the world and the enemies may not forgive Gibson, he deserves the Church’s forgiveness, prayers, and support. And if the Church is reluctant to forgive then perhaps we need to re-examine our own sinful nature.

My Fantasy Baseball team

2006-08-12T22:29:00.000-05:00

Starting for The Homeless:
C P. Lo Duca (NYM - C)
1B P. Konerko (CWS - 1B)
2B A. Soriano (Was - 2B,OF)
3B Á. Rodríguez (NYY - 3B)
SS J. Reyes (NYM - SS)
OF A. Dunn (Cin - 1B,OF)
OF M. Ramírez (Bos - OF)
OF Á. Ríos (Tor - OF)
Util M. Teixeira (Tex - 1B)
And on my bench:
BN Re. Johnson (Tor - OF)
BN J. Estrada (Ari - C)
DL H. Matsui (NYY - OF)

I also lead several categories of pitching, but I am still in fourth place!!!!
I will make a late comeback to be sure.

Livin' in the fish bowl

2006-08-12T08:57:00.000-05:00

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” Paul writes to the tempted Corinthians. It is good advice. Everything that I do should be done for God’s glory. Agreeing to this statement means that I agree to be the best servant of Christ and the church I am called to be.

My personal life is just as important to my ministry as the church business. How I conduct my family life is just as crucial as my sermon preparation. My physical, mental, and emotional health are just as essential as the administrative council meetings. Personal care will impact my ability to conduct the ministry to which I am called.

I know that I must set the example. I should heed the words of St. Paul as he advises his protégé Timothy regarding his role as “overseer.”

Now an overseer must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money (1 Timothy. 3:2-3).

Paul’s advice to Timothy some two thousand years ago is just as relevant today. I am aware that people will be watching my family and me. People are paying attention to how I conduct myself. They will notice how I raise my children. People will care about how I spend my time and money. My opinions on current events and other cultural happenings may be sought after. When seen in public, people will expect the pastor to act “appropriately.”

Yet, while I know I live in a “fish bowl,” I am aware that I will never meet everyone’s expectations. I am nothing more than a redeemed sinner. I will let people down; for example, I may be late for a meeting. Mistakes will be made, such as making a joke that could be taken the wrong way. I will disappoint, in that some may expect I should speak more against certain social issues. Others may even be upset if they knew that I occasionally drink an alcoholic beverage, listen to secular music, or watch R-rated movies. At times, I will need to remind the congregation that their pastor is still human. Yet, everyone should know that I seek to bring glory to God in all that I do, even if they do not understand how God can be glorified by a certain action.

Individuals given authority in the church to be ministers should conduct themselves in a way that brings glory to God and gives a positive and effective witness to Jesus Christ. In my life, I pray I will do such by dedicating myself “to the highest ideals of the Christian life.”

Why, Mr. Webb, what is that you and your band are drinking?

2006-08-11T14:16:00.000-05:00

He is never going to get played on the local Christian station by doing that. As if any Christian radio station has the guts to play the Truth of his message. But his CD is sold in our local Christian Bookstore, Canan Bible Bookstore.

PS: The answer is Guiness Draught. This pic is from the night he played Mercy Lounge on 7/31, not the night he played before Jerry Falwell at Liberty U. And for the record, I am not a fan of Guiness, something Derek and I disgree upon.

Derek Webb is "Christian" music

2006-08-10T10:38:00.000-05:00

If you are not listening to Derek Webb then you haven't listened to real "Christian" music. Derek was teh lead singer with popular Christian band Caedmon's Call. His solo music is not the typical pious, shallow music that plays on your local Christian radio station. He challenges and indicts. He speaks Truth. In September you will be able to download Derek's newsest CD by clicking the link on the right side of my blog. Read these lyrics a csong off his new CD Mockingbird.

A King and A Kingdom by Derek Webb
vs. 1) who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him
i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives'
cause we married in to a family of immigrants

(chorus) my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom

(vs. 2)
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him

(chorus)

(bridge) but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think

More than corn

2006-08-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana.

Today is National Underwear Day

2006-08-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

In honor of this special holiday Sunday at our United Methodist Church all will be invited to strip down to our underwear and say a special prayer for the state of American's underwear. We will sing an ode to underwear and honor our underwear in many different ways.

All are welcome (you don't have to just be thin and muscular like this picture). Please join us at 10 AM. God bless our underwear. Thank you.

John Reuben rocks (well, raps)

2006-08-07T18:30:00.000-05:00

"Christian" Rapper John Reuben released a powerful and revealing CD last year that I recommend, The Boy vs the Cynic (Gotee Records). While his music is appeals to a certain audience I am impressed that Goatee Records would produce this album. I am thrilled by the fact that Reuben is touring in major Christian venues with his new, more mature, and confrontational message. Read these lyrics from the song What About Them? Keep in mind that he is a "rapper" (so some of the lyrics are kind of elementary -- yet striking).

Puff the magic Jesus floats around the universe
the United States is his favorite place in the whole entire earth
so sing your songs and wave your flags
and thank the Lord for all you have
but what about the? What about them?
I am hopeful with music like this being produced under a popular "Christian" label.

More than corn

2006-08-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.

North and South Indiana worship attendance tops national average

2006-08-05T15:19:00.000-05:00

All United States annual conferences have now conducted their 2006 sessions. United Methodist Newscope reported summaries of each conference’s actions, including current membership and worship attendance figures. Although these figures are not “official” until later, some startling conclusions can be drawn from them. The North Central Jurisdiction had the highest average worship attendance of the five US jurisdictions — 49.1 percent. The North Indiana Conference had the highest worship attendance in the North Central Jurisdiction and the highest worship attendance of all US annual conferences — 69.7 percent. The West Michigan Conference had a worship attendance of 63.0 percent, the second highest in the jurisdiction and the third highest overall. The South Indiana Conference had a worship attendance of 57.3 percent, the third highest in the jurisdiction and the fifth highest overall.

- From e-news of inareumc.org

Something else to look forward to

2006-08-05T11:34:00.000-05:00

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - August 1, 2006 - The latest green tea brew isn't something from a tea pot -- but a beer bottle.

Wisconsin micro brewer BluCreek is coming out with a new beer called Zen. The idea is to give a brewski the supposed health benefits of green tea. The brewery says the India Pale Ale could be the first of its kind and has a subtle green tea flavor. BluCreek Brewing has tried other unusual combinations before, including an ale made with fresh wild blueberries and a beer using Wisconsin ginseng. Zen will be available in some Midwest and Florida markets this month. It will sell for about eight bucks a six-pack.

More than Corn

2006-08-04T08:32:00.000-05:00

Wabash, Indiana was the first electrified city in the U.S.

Conservative pastor addresses patriotic idolatry, pays huge price for speaking the Truth

2006-08-03T18:45:00.000-05:00

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN, The New York Times
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (July 30) -- Like most pastors who lead thriving evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Gregory A. Boyd was asked frequently to give his blessing -- and the church's -- to conservative political candidates and causes.

The requests came from church members and visitors alike: Would he please announce a rally against gay marriage during services? Would he introduce a politician from the pulpit? Could members set up a table in the lobby promoting their anti-abortion work? Would the church distribute “voters’ guides” that all but endorsed Republican candidates? And with the country at war, please couldn’t the church hang an American flag in the sanctuary?

After refusing each time, Mr. Boyd finally became fed up, he said. Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called “The Cross and the Sword” in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a “Christian nation” and stop glorifying American military campaigns.

“When the church wins the culture wars, it inevitably loses,” Mr. Boyd preached. “When it conquers the world, it becomes the world. When you put your trust in the sword, you lose the cross.”

Mr. Boyd says he is no liberal. He is opposed to abortion and thinks homosexuality is not God’s ideal. The response from his congregation at Woodland Hills Church here in suburban St. Paul -- packed mostly with politically and theologically conservative, middle-class evangelicals -- was passionate. Some members walked out of a sermon and never returned. By the time the dust had settled, Woodland Hills, which Mr. Boyd founded in 1992, had lost about 1,000 of its 5,000 members.

But there were also congregants who thanked Mr. Boyd, telling him they were moved to tears to hear him voice concerns they had been too afraid to share.

“Most of my friends are believers,” said Shannon Staiger, a psychotherapist and church member, “and they think if you’re a believer, you’ll vote for Bush. And it’s scary to go against that.”

Sermons like Mr. Boyd’s are hardly typical in today’s evangelical churches. But the upheaval at Woodland Hills is an example of the internal debates now going on in some evangelical colleges, magazines and churches. A common concern is that the Christian message is being compromised by the tendency to tie evangelical Christianity to the Republican Party and American nationalism, especially through the war in Iraq.

At least six books on this theme have been published recently, some by Christian publishing houses. Randall Balmer, a religion professor at Barnard College and an evangelical, has written “Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America -- an Evangelical’s Lament.”

And Mr. Boyd has a new book out, “The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church,” which is based on his sermons.

“There is a lot of discontent brewing,” said Brian D. McLaren, the founding pastor at Cedar Ridge Community Church in Gaithersburg, Md., and a leader in the evangelical movement known as the “emerging church,” which is at the forefront of challenging the more politicized evangelical establishment.

“More and more people are saying this has gone too far -- the dominance of the evangelical identity by the religious right,” Mr. McLaren said. “You cannot say the word ‘Jesus’ in 2006 without having an awful lot of baggage going along with it. You can’t say the word ‘Christian,’ and you certainly can’t say the word ‘evangelical’ without it now raising connotations and a certain cringe factor in people.

“Because people think, ‘Oh no, what is going to come next is homosexual bashing, or pro-war rhetoric, or complaining about ‘activist judges.’ ”

Mr. Boyd said he had cleared his sermons with the church’s board, but his words left some in his congregation stunned. Some said that he was disrespecting President Bush and the military, that he was soft on abortion or telling them not to vote.

“When we joined years ago, Greg was a conservative speaker,” said William Berggren, a lawyer who joined the church with his wife six years ago. “But we totally disagreed with him on this. You can’t be a Christian and ignore actions that you feel are wrong. A case in point is the abortion issue. If the church were awake when abortion was passed in the 70’s, it wouldn’t have happened. But the church was asleep.”

Mr. Boyd, 49, who preaches in blue jeans and rumpled plaid shirts, leads a church that occupies a squat block-long building that was once a home improvement chain store.

The church grew from 40 members in 12 years, based in no small part on Mr. Boyd’s draw as an electrifying preacher who stuck closely to Scripture. He has degrees from Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary, and he taught theology at Bethel College in St. Paul, where he created a controversy a few years ago by questioning whether God fully knew the future. Some pastors in his own denomination, the Baptist General Conference, mounted an effort to evict Mr. Boyd from the denomination and his teaching post, but he won that battle.

He is known among evangelicals for a bestselling book, “Letters From a Skeptic,” based on correspondence with his father, a leftist union organizer and a lifelong agnostic -- an exchange that eventually persuaded his father to embrace Christianity.

Mr. Boyd said he never intended his sermons to be taken as merely a critique of the Republican Party or the religious right. He refuses to share his party affiliation, or whether he has one, for that reason. He said there were Christians on both the left and the right who had turned politics and patriotism into “idolatry.”

He said he first became alarmed while visiting another megachurch’s worship service on a Fourth of July years ago. The service finished with the chorus singing “God Bless America” and a video of fighter jets flying over a hill silhouetted with crosses.

“I thought to myself, ‘What just happened? Fighter jets mixed up with the cross?’ ” he said in an interview.

Patriotic displays are still a mainstay in some evangelical churches. Across town from Mr. Boyd’s church, the sanctuary of North Heights Lutheran Church was draped in bunting on the Sunday before the Fourth of July this year for a “freedom celebration.” Military veterans and flag twirlers paraded into the sanctuary, an enormous American flag rose slowly behind the stage, and a Marine major who had served in Afghanistan preached that the military was spending “your hard-earned money” on good causes.

In his six sermons, Mr. Boyd laid out a broad argument that the role of Christians was not to seek “power over” others -- by controlling governments, passing legislation or fighting wars.
Christians should instead seek to have “power under” others — “winning people’s hearts” by sacrificing for those in need, as Jesus did, Mr. Boyd said.

“America wasn’t founded as a theocracy,” he said. “America was founded by people trying to escape theocracies. Never in history have we had a Christian theocracy where it wasn’t bloody and barbaric. That’s why our Constitution wisely put in a separation of church and state.
“I am sorry to tell you,” he continued, “that America is not the light of the world and the hope of the world. The light of the world and the hope of the world is Jesus Christ.”

Mr. Boyd lambasted the “hypocrisy and pettiness” of Christians who focus on “sexual issues” like homosexuality, abortion or Janet Jackson’s breast-revealing performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. He said Christians these days were constantly outraged about sex and perceived violations of their rights to display their faith in public.

“Those are the two buttons to push if you want to get Christians to act,” he said. “And those are the two buttons Jesus never pushed.”

Some Woodland Hills members said they applauded the sermons because they had resolved their conflicted feelings. David Churchill, a truck driver for U.P.S. and a Teamster for 26 years, said he had been “raised in a religious-right home” but was torn between the Republican expectations of faith and family and the Democratic expectations of his union.

When Mr. Boyd preached his sermons, “it was liberating to me,” Mr. Churchill said.

Mr. Boyd gave his sermons while his church was in the midst of a $7 million fund-raising campaign. But only $4 million came in, and 7 of the more than 50 staff members were laid off, he said.

Mary Van Sickle, the family pastor at Woodland Hills, said she lost 20 volunteers who had been the backbone of the church’s Sunday school.

“They said, ‘You’re not doing what the church is supposed to be doing, which is supporting the Republican way,’ ” she said. “It was some of my best volunteers.”

The Rev. Paul Eddy, a theology professor at Bethel College and the teaching pastor at Woodland Hills, said: “Greg is an anomaly in the megachurch world. He didn’t give a whit about church leadership, never read a book about church growth. His biggest fear is that people will think that all church is is a weekend carnival, with people liking the worship, the music, his speaking, and that’s it.”

In the end, those who left tended to be white, middle-class suburbanites, church staff members said. In their place, the church has added more members who live in the surrounding community — African-Americans, Hispanics and Hmong immigrants from Laos.

This suits Mr. Boyd. His vision for his church is an ethnically and economically diverse congregation that exemplifies Jesus’ teachings by its members’ actions. He, his wife and three other families from the church moved from the suburbs three years ago to a predominantly black neighborhood in St. Paul.

Mr. Boyd now says of the upheaval: “I don’t regret any aspect of it at all. It was a defining moment for us. We let go of something we were never called to be. We just didn’t know the price we were going to pay for doing it.”

His congregation of about 4,000 is still digesting his message. Mr. Boyd arranged a forum on a recent Wednesday night to allow members to sound off on his new book. The reception was warm, but many of the 56 questions submitted in writing were pointed: Isn’t abortion an evil that Christians should prevent? Are you saying Christians should not join the military? How can Christians possibly have “power under” Osama bin Laden? Didn’t the church play an enormously positive role in the civil rights movement?

One woman asked: “So why NOT us? If we contain the wisdom and grace and love and creativity of Jesus, why shouldn’t we be the ones involved in politics and setting laws?”

Mr. Boyd responded: “I don’t think there’s a particular angle we have on society that others lack. All good, decent people want good and order and justice. Just don’t slap the label ‘Christian’ on it.”
***
I have read Greg Boyd's book. It is important reading for all Christians in modern America.
This gives me hope. Thank you Rev. Boyd for blazing this trail!

Catholic nun, who will be canonized, honored at Statehouse

2006-08-01T19:12:00.000-05:00

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - State officials are honoring Mother Theodore Guerin, a 19th-century Roman Catholic nun who is to be named a saint, by hanging her portrait in the governor's office.
Gov. Mitch Daniels called it a tribute to a woman "who was brave, selfless and gave her life of service to others." At a Vatican ceremony Oct. 15, Guerin will become the first person from Indiana and the eighth from the United States to be canonized in the Catholic Church.
Guerin was a French nun who left her homeland in 1840 for the then-frontier state of Indiana, and within a year founded the Sisters of Providence Academy - now known as St. Mary-of-the-Woods College - near Terre Haute. She died in 1856.
St. Mary-of-the-Woods is the oldest Catholic liberal arts college for women in the United States, and under Guerin's leadership, the schools were expanded into Illinois, Massachusetts and California. Several members of the congregation near Terre Haute attended the July 21 portrait hanging.
Pope John Paul II had accepted a nun's recovery from cancer as a miracle attributed to Guerin. One miracle is needed for beatification, and Guerin was beatified in 1998.
Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI approved a second miracle - the regaining of eyesight by an employee at the order's mother house - as the result of Guerin's intercession.
It takes two miracles to move forward on the path to sainthood. Both of the healings took place after prayers to Guerin long after her death.

More than Corn

2006-07-31T10:19:00.000-05:00

Theme parks were invented in Indiana. The world's first theme park opened on August 3, 1946, in Santa Claus, Indiana. Santa Claus Land opened a full nine years before Mr. Disney opened his park in California. Today, Santa Claus Land is called Holiday World, and includes The Raven - voted the #1 Wooden Coaster on the planet in 2000. Holiday World continues to be owned and operated by the same family that got it all started more than half a century ago.

Fred Phelps gets hit on

2006-07-29T10:12:00.000-05:00

Fred Phelps Jr.'s Comeuppance

I expected a different reaction. He did well with this guy.
Funny stuff.

Additional thought on patriotic thoughts

2006-07-28T21:51:00.000-05:00

Not being privy to the details of your relationship with the parish, past words exchanged on this issue, behavior and conduct by both parties, etc.... I still want to voice support for your principled stance. It's an important issue - one which few churches or clergy are willing to deal with. A pox on impotent clergy! And a pox on will worship! You have raised an issue that few would even question - much less vocally challenge. In principle, I support your position and your conviction to speak out. -- Anonymous

More than Corn

2006-07-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

I thought I would try and lighten this blog up a little by adding this new feature.
“More than corn” will be little fun facts about Indiana. I hope you enjoy!

The name "Indiana" was created by Congress in 1800 which means "the land of the Indians."

Final patriotic thoughts

2006-07-28T12:38:00.000-05:00

Some may wonder why they have not heard this theological understanding from previous pastors. Having talked with a pastor who served this church recently, it is my understanding that he feels similarly. In our conversation he revealed that he moved the flags to the side in his first few months of pasturing this church for ten years. According to my research, at least since this church has had the current hymnal, The Star-Spangled Banner has never been sung and only once while last pastor was here did the congregation sing America the Beautiful. I cannot explain why other pastors have never directly addressed this issue; I can only assume that the theology held by other clergypersons was a civil religion with which they grew up. As difficult and confusing as you find all of this to consider, I find it devastating that preachers have never spoken up before.

I can share that in the first few months of my ministry at this church, I told the Staff-Parish Relations Committee that I follow the Christian Calendar and will not shape the focus of the worship service based on the civil or Hallmark calendar. Perhaps Christians in America can in various ways affirm their loyalty to the state. But not in the holy space that is sanctuary. Not in lieu of—or even in addition to—the Creed. And certainly, not in place of gathering around the Eucharistic table, at which people of all ages, nations, and races bend their knee and experience God’s presence and grace.

In conclusion, as your pastor, I have been given the awesome responsibility to lead you in worship and in ministry to the One True God. I am called by God to preach the Gospel and ground my ministry in Scriptural authority. I believe our gestures and words matter to God. Therefore, in spite of the pressure I have felt to do otherwise, I made a conscious decision to maintain our focus solely upon our Triune God during the worship gatherings around these civil holidays. Being aware of the possible consequences it is always difficult to make these types of unpopular decisions. I respectfully disagree with those who feel I should have acted otherwise. In fact, I have even attempted to bring about compromise by moving the American and Christian flags to the front of the sanctuary and by having a July 4th Prayer Service. I have made these compromises in attempt to bring about peace amidst the recent conflict. Yet in spite of my efforts some remain displeased and others have left our fold and may not return. I am greatly saddened by this response. Yet, I will point out that this only proves the evil and divisiveness that is perpetuate by having split allegiances. It appears that some have more passion and desire to give allegiance to other symbols than to come along side us in worship of the God of the Ages. Everyone has the benefit of worshipping wherever they desire. If some desire to find gatherings in which they can offer gestures and words to ideals and symbols in addition to Jesus Christ that is their prerogative.

While it is my hope that this letter and other contact will bring about peace and understanding in our congregation, I fear that these spiritual battles and ideological differences are too big for some to overcome. I am more than willing to discuss these matters with any who desire. In the end, it is my wish that we forge ahead and not live in amidst these storms any longer. My intentions are not to divide our congregation. I do not plan on letting this one issue shape neither my ministry nor preaching. May we not let these disagreements distract us from doing the ministry we can accomplish together. I am confident that as we continue to focus on Jesus Christ, the Lord will bless our Church and the world around us.

I am excited about our future together. I continue to pray that God will use us all to reach the lost and needy of our surrounding area. I continue to seek God’s Will for us in how we can live out our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ. As long as I am pastor I give you my word that when you come to worship on Sunday you can be assured that you will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Biblical Truth loudly proclaimed. I appreciate and need your continued prayer and support.

Thoughts on patriotic thoughts

2006-07-27T20:33:00.000-05:00

Below are some comments people made about my two below posts regarding patriotism and conflict at the church I serve. It is good to know I am not alone.

“Last year, at our old church, we had a group that visited our church. One of the songs they sang was "Proud to be an American." Personally, I have no issue with the sentiment, but I took issue with the way everyone (except for me) did the old stand up at the proper moment in the song; this, for people who will not stand during music worship, or when they do stand, they do so with arms folded and mouths closed. Hang in there, you're not alone in your thoughts. Gutsy move on the letter...bold stands are called for.” – John, a youth minister from Cedar Rapids, IA

“my church is VERY into patriotic services. its mostly headed up by the music people -- not by our pastors preaching. I am the editor of our newsletter. In July I wrote an article saying how much i love the 4th of july, but that if you look into history... you will see that the founders picked what of the BIble they liked and what they disregarded. I brought of the whole Enlightenment thing. I slammed Thomas Jefferson. The next Sunday my pastor started his sermon my quoting all the founders and Lincoln on the area of respect of the Bible. he made them all look so good. You have to look at the context and the other quotes. I know it was his way of responding to my article. Respect doesn't always translate into Belief.” – Kyra Joy from Warwick,NY

“The church I attend also gets very patriotic. Honors the vets and sings the patriotic songs...this does bother me. It DOES NOT bother me to honor the vets or sing the songs per se but maybe we could sing them in the fellowship hall, or gymnasium, or parking lot... Some people actually come to church to hear Gods word and worship Him. To me it would be good to abstain from this practice so as to NOT offend someone. (edited the 'go kill 'em accusation. If I offended you please forgive me) Very close to idolatry if it isn't.” – Anonymous

“That's an awesome letter” – David Mitchel from VA

“It's impossible to judge the pastoral merits of your letter (whether it was too harsh or appropriate) without knowing your congregation and its life and culture. I respect your position, but whether or not you proceeded in a pastorally wise manner should be a judgment made by your elders and the Lord. My $.02.” – Jason from NH

“I agree with much of the substance of the letter, but bringing up the issue of idolatry in the first sentence is probably not setting the right tone. I would be more positive about pledging allegiance to our nation. Talk about the good things about our country, then say why we cannot place this country above our Lord. If you have trouble with the pledge of allegiance in and of itself, that is fine, but doesn't need to be mentioned in the letter, and won't be winsome to your cause. That said, I cannot believe so many churches exercise patriotic services. Praying for our troops I can understand, but I was completely unaware of this practice before I came to this board.” – Kevin S.

“Is the letter a little harsh, you wonder? I think so. Is it harsher than it should be? I don't think so. You are absolutely correct that the singing of songs to the USA in church is outright idolatry. (Saying the pledge crosses the line as well, in my opinion.) Many Christians are clearly worshiping the United States of America, and are even doing so in their church services. And idolatry deserves a very strong rebuke. It seems to me that we should worry less about hurting people's feelings and worry more about their worship of false gods.” – Travis White from Lubbock, TX

“Sticking by the Word of God does not always come easy, but you are doing a fine job. People are not always comfortable having to look inside themselves and weed out idols such as patriotism, but that doesn't mean its not the role of spiritual leaders to point them out. I know I am certainly not a theological expert and no experience in church leadership, but I certainly support you. Oh and BTW, who ever would come up with saying the Pledge of Allegiance in church?? That's bad. But then again, it is a UMC full of old people stuck in tradition. – Steph from KS

“I don't think just because leaders are to be honored it should be done in a church service. So maybe you can skip over the "whether not they should be honored debate in your church" and just ask if the church gathering is the appropriate place. That may be less offensive to your congregation, I think it would be easier for them to just agree with that, and then the other issue becomes less important. The older folks in America really did grow up in a different country than we have now, and sometimes I don't think they realize how much has changed...and I am not arguing with you, but I don't know what the proper attitude toward our leadership should be right now. But I can see honoring an office, without honoring a man...but that really doesn't have anything to do with this. Anyway, I wish you the best, and at least you are a Methodist Minister, so don't you get to move on soon?” – Anonymous

“This MUST be addressed. Biblically. But I would assume that these folks did not get to 'this point' over night. So definitely lead them out of the shades of idolatry but it may take as long to lead them out as it took for them to get where they are. And if I was a bettin' man it has been quite some time for this mindset to develop. Maybe not. God can do whatever at the pace that He sees fit. Praying for you.” – Anonymous

Even More Patriotic Thoughts

2006-07-27T09:29:00.000-05:00

In Acts 17, Paul preaches the Good News of Jesus at the synagogue in Thessalonica and persuades a few. Upset, the Jews bring the Christians they could find before the city officials and make this claim: “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also… they are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying there is another King named Jesus.”

Today, this is rarely a charge made against the Christian. We no longer turn the world upside-down. Christianity has been assimilated into the predominate culture. We, Christians, are tolerated as long as we “play by the rules.” Further, our efforts to “play by the rules” and impact the political landscape through the world’s means are a far cry from the sacrifice of the martyrs who shed blood in service to the Lord of Lords. Instead, we have settled to become one of many options on the pluralistic buffet table of ideas. It seems that the Lordship of Jesus Christ is neutered in the modern world. Though we may not realize it, true service to Christ and recognition of Him as our one and only Lord continues to be risky business.

In 21st-Century America we often choose to abandon our Christian heritage and play it safe. Many churches reduce the radical, counter-cultural Gospel to motivational speeches and self-help guides. The Gospel is boiled-down to “seven practical tips to raising a healthy family,” or “an everyday guide to your personal finances.” This is not the reason our Jesus died for us; this is not what it means to claim Jesus Christ as Lord. The Rulers, Authority, and Powers should be threatened by a Church which claims Jesus as Lord. Satan himself should quake in his boots. Today, in the richest nation in the history of the world, Christians are in the position to break out and serve our Lord to the fullest. Yet, we guard our personal freedoms and uphold the economic and political systems we have come to rely upon for our stability and income. We put our trust in modern day “chariots and warriors” for protection of “our borders.” We give allegiance to pagan idols and symbols. We sing songs of worship, even in our churches, to ideologies which support oppression and violence. Yet, we, like the early Christians, face the challenge of declaring our loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ and denouncing the Lordship of Caesar.

I am hopeful that in a post-Christian world, we may one day soon have to cling to the exclusive message of the Gospel. We may soon take seriously what our Lord meant when He spoke of the cost of discipleship: “If you want to find your life, lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Maybe we will better understand why our Lord more or less discourages people from becoming His disciples when He speaks of the sacrifices involved. Jesus said that even “foxes have holes and birds have nests” but those who follow after Him must be willing to give up everything. Undivided loyalty is required, as Jesus may require us to “let the dead bury the dead” and “hate [our] father and mother, [our] wife and children, [our] brothers and sisters—yes, even [our] own life” to be His disciples. Jesus wants us to count the costs. Of course, in requiring such things of us He declares that there would be costs for claiming the exclusive Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we are faithful to Scripture and the faith it expresses to us, then we will know that in claiming Jesus as Lord we too will have a price to pay and that price includes our loyalties.

More patriotic thoughts

2006-07-26T08:30:00.000-05:00

While there are many Biblical examples I could offer, allow me to point to two examples from our Christian heritage. In the Book of Daniel, I might remind you of a very subversive and political story you learned in Sunday School. In this narrative, we read about a young man and his friends who lived in a hostile nation, under a ruler who demanded strict loyalty and allegiance. The emporer of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, built a giant symbol of himself to represent his sovereignty and the sovereignty of his nation. However, Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were slaves in exile, worshipped the One True God. On the day of the revealing of this symbol, everyone was expected to bow their knee and pay respect to the nation’s symbol. Yet, even under pressure, these boys refused to give their allegiance to anything or anyone but the One True God. Rack, Shaq, and Benny understood the significance of their words and gestures. The consequence of their actions cost them a trip to the fiery furnace. In the end God honored them for refusing to pledge their allegiance to anything or anyone but Him as He showed up amidst the fire they faced and protected them. We too as Christians in America have a lesson to learn from this story. But perhaps the greatest message we can derive from this story is that when we too are under great pressure to give our allegiance to the nation’s symbols and we refuse, God will be with us when we face the heat from those who will disagree.

A second illustration comes from the early church. The ancient Christians were not persecuted and killed because they worshipped a dead man named Jesus. The Romans, not unlike the American state, were perfectly content to let those living under their rule worship whomever or whatever they wished—so long as their ultimate allegiance was to Caesar, a loyalty they were required to demonstrate only once a year, by participating in a seemingly innocuous “pledge of allegiance.” But the Christians, taking seriously the admonition of Jesus that “you do not give to Caser that which belongs to God” refused. Like Daniel and his friends, they rightly understood that in a world whose existence is based on the rejection of the Lordship of God, even the most apparently innocuous words and gestures speak volumes about where our ultimate loyalties lie. They “render to Caesar that which was Caesar” when they could, and respected and submitted to the authority of the government. But they refused to do anything that remotely suggested, even for ten brief seconds, that the course of human history was controlled by anything other than Jesus Christ. Freedom was not found in the symbols of the nation; freedom was found in the eternal symbol of the cross of Jesus Christ.

In the past, the Christian faith and worldview, and in fact the church itself, were closely aligned with the American state. This view understood that the nation-state would be at least vaguely under girded by the Church and a monotheistic “Christian” religion and piety. This assumption remains in many pockets of our society; some are entrenched in this assumption. However, this situation cost the church her prophetic voice. No longer could the Church question the nation if the Church was side by side with the nation. The Church lost her ability to call into question the violence and oppression perpetuated by the nation. At least this was the case until the mid-1900’s. During the civil rights movement and protests of the Vietnam War, the church recovered some of her prophetic voice.

Unfortunately, many parts of the Church, particularly in the mainline denominations like the United Methodist Church, compromised their ministry by accepting a “Social Gospel” theology and swung too far the other way. In this liberal theology, the mission of the church to make disciples was compromised by a completely politicized faith which sole purpose was not to claim Jesus Christ as Lord but to use Jesus Christ as a prop for certain political agendas. In the past 25 years, this model was tailored by the “conservatives” to mix politics and religion creating a new force in the nation. These “conservatives” are entrenched, not in Biblical and Christ-centered theology, but instead in an ideology of “God and country.” It is these who are most upset by the church’s loss of influence within the government. In response, they have rallied the troops and created a political movement which seeks to not only influence morality on the nation but to legislate that same morality. Of course while there is no Biblical basis for this way of acting, it has allowed politicians on both sides of the aisle the leeway of abusing and misusing the subversive and counter-cultural faith of Jesus Christ. Again, all of this is called civil religion, despite whether it comes from the left or the right.

Therefore pastors who grew up with this civil religion probably taught and perpetuated this same civil religion in the churches they served. There remain pastors, some very popular—as this is the popular things to say, that continue to share this inaccurate presentation of Gospel Truth. As I said, this can be very confusing for those who have been taught the regrettable mixing of God’s story and America’s story. Yet among some Christians today there is a call for the Church to regain her prophetic voice. We are discovering that in spite of politicians who have Bibles under their arms and preachers who have flags in their Bibles, our world and this nation remain unreceptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ...

Patriotic thoughts: pastoral or too harsh in dealing with church conflict?

2006-07-25T11:39:00.000-05:00

So some of you may know that lately I have dealt with some conflict in the church. This conflict climaxed around memorial day as some of the older folks wanted me to make our only worship service more patriotic. I refused and have had hell to pay ever since... some have even left the church. In my attempt to clear this up I have meet with some key leaders.

I have formed a letter in regards to the conflict and to explain my thoughts. Since this issue is not an easy one to grasp (for the average lay person who has been given God-and-country theology for many, many, many years by previous pastors) this letter is very long. So I have only given the opening paragraphs, which my some have said are too harsh.

Yes, they are direct, but... what do you think?

That is what I want to know. So here they are (and there is some borrowed language from a friend in ministry who recently dealt with the same issue).
***
Brothers and Sister in Christ,
In late May and early July, Christians across the nation gathered in their sanctuaries and engaged in acts of collective idolatry. That most Christians neither intended to be idolaters, nor were even vaguely aware they were doing so is not the issue; quite apart from what they intended or understood, many Christians gathered together in acts of worship directed toward a false god. Our blissful ignorance, far from being an excuse, is simply a sign that we have lost the capacity rightly to name the deity upon whom we are ultimately dependant.

I refer, of course, to the fact that Christians around both the Memorial Day and July 4th civil holidays recited the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the American flag and sang songs in honor of America. In some churches on Sabbath days around these dates, Christians stood for the flag and presented gestures and words of allegiance to the symbols of and directly to the American nation-state.

My writing this will almost certainly elicit strong reaction. In fact, some members of the congregation have already been made aware of my thoughts and feelings regarding these matters and some are so upset about this that they have decided to leave our congregation. I have a feeling that I have been misunderstood. If the members of this church, like yourself, are to be angry, let them be angry for the right reasons. My objections to what happens on these Sundays have little to do with my objections to war, or with loving America, or with supporting the American government in a time of national crisis. They have everything to do with the proper worship of the Triune God, the One in Whose name we ostensibly gather on Sunday mornings.

Like all Christians in America, I live daily with the tensions—and with the confusion—created by living as a member of a state that demands my allegiance. My daughter attends a local church's preschool and during their chapel time, unfortunately, they are instructed to say the “Pledge of Allegiance.” My wife and I have explained to her that her duty to “God and country” includes first of all reminding her country that it is not her god. For us, that means not pledging our allegiance to anything other than Jesus Christ, including America or to any of its symbols. Other faithful Christians may think this is a bit much. They may question the analogy between worship and pledge, arguing that the two activities belong in two different realms. They may claim that it is quite possible to worship God and pledge allegiance to America. I respectfully disagree. Words and gestures do matter, and the words we speak and the gestures we perform in Church matter most of all.

While there are many Biblical examples I could offer, allow me to point to two examples from our Christian heritage. In the Book of Daniel, I might remind you of a very subversive and political story you learned in Sunday School...
***
I will post more tomorrow. I back off later in the letter, which is five pages, single-spaced.

What are your initial thoughts? Is this too harsh? Are you the average lay-person who has never thought about this... What did you think? What would you think if you got a letter that opened like this from your pastor?

Understanding Generations: Millennials

2006-07-21T07:55:00.000-05:00

Millennials aka Mosaics: 1980 – 2000
Formative Experiences: Internet, The Clinton Administration, Columbine shootings, 9/11, War on Terrorism, post-modernism

Characteristics: Determined work ethic, hopeful, polite to authority, leadership by teamwork, diverse and inclusive relationships,

Church characteristics: desires divergent thinking from Bible, Neo-traditional and interactive worship, truthful and communal evangelism, need mentors, inspired by compelling stories

The job of this age group is: preparing.

Understanding Generations: Gen-X

2006-07-21T07:51:00.000-05:00

Generation X aka Baby Busters – 1964 – 1980
Formative Experiences: Technology, Berlin Wall dismantled, Challenger disaster, AIDS, Oklahoma City bombing, Gulf War, MTV

Characteristics: balanced work ethic, skeptical, unimpressed by authority, leadership by competence, reluctant to commit to relationships,

Church characteristics: desire answers to questions from Bible, authentic worship, friendship evangelism, want life skills and short term commitments

The job of this age group is: promoting.

Understanding Generations: Baby Boomers

2006-07-21T07:49:00.000-05:00

Baby Boomers aka The Me Generation – 1946 – 1963
Formative Experiences: cold war, television, economic affluence, civil rights movement, assassinations, space race, political scandals

Characteristics: driven work ethic, optimistic, love/hate relationship with authority, leadership by consensus, personal gratification in relationships,

Church characteristics: desire “how to” approach to Bible, casual and pragmatic worship, supportive of “causes,” seeker-sensitive evangelism, vision oriented

The job of his age group is: prevailing.

Understanding Generations: Veterans

2006-07-20T12:36:00.000-05:00

Veterans aka Builders – 1924-1946
Formative Experiences: WWI, Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWII, Korean War, rural lifestyle, family, school, and church were center of life.

Characteristics: dedicated work ethic, practical, respectful of authority, leadership by hierarchy, Personal sacrifice in relationships/loyal

Church Characteristics: desire Biblical content, worship reverence, supportive of foreign missions, crusade evangelism

The job of this age group is to be informing.

Understanding Generations

2006-07-19T09:23:00.000-05:00

I finally finished One Church, Four Generations by Gary Mcintosh. This book helped me fully understand the importance of knowing about the different generations when doing ministry. It is good for me to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how of particular generations. While generalizations about generations are not always on target, often they can capsulate at least part of a person from that generations. As a trail-end member of Generation-X, it is good for me to understand the older generations in my church (and it would be good for them to understand what make my generation tick). So I thought I would take some time and share some thoughts this week from McIntiosh’s book as well as from other sources, like Bishop Coyner’s presentation at the North Indiana Annual Conference this year.

In early 1900s, when life expectancy was under fifty years, only three generations were interacting together in most situations. In the 21st Century, life expectancy is approaching eighty years, which means at least four, sometimes five or six, generations are interacting in our communities and in our churches.

Determining a generation involves span of years as well as connections of a common mindset, common character, and common shared events. These generalizations account for a majority of the generation. However, generations are influenced by upbringing. Further, overlap often occurs on the edges of the generations. For example, since I was born in 1977 I am technically part of Gen-X, but I feel that I have more in common with many Millenials/Mosaics than early Gen-Xers.

Tomorrow: Veterans aka Builders – 1924-1946

Is there a better place?

2006-07-14T23:39:00.000-05:00

Stephen Colbert and Congressman Lynn Westmoreland

Really? Constantine would agree.

With the Confessing Movement this week

2006-07-12T16:31:00.000-05:00

So this week I am at Epworth Insititute which is sponsored by the Confessing Movement. So far it has been a great week with wonderful teaching and preaching.
Classes are conducted each morning by the most highly-acclaimed professors in America; afternoons are open for recreation and family activities; and an inspiring worship service is held each evening. The faculty in 2006 includes Dr. Elmer M. Colyer teaching "Wesley's Trinitarian Vision of the Christian Faith," Dr. William R. Bouknight teaching "The ABC's of Preaching" and Dr. Randy L. Maddox teaching "Wesley's Holistic Theology of Salvation." Preaching each evening will be Bishop James Swanson.
This has been a great week of spiritual renewal, learning, andn etworking with like-minded United Methodists. If I get the chance I will post more later.

For those who don't know:
The Epworth Institute is primarily for United Methodist clergy under age 45 with a minimum of two years full-time ministry under appointment, however all are welcome.
The purpose of the Epworth Institute is for young United Methodist Clergy to be...-- grounded in solid Wesleyan theology.-- educated in the sound academic foundations beneath Wesleyan theology.-- afforded the opportunity to develop networks of mutual support.-- provided high-quality continuing education.

What’s so hard about “Love one another”?

2006-07-09T14:58:00.000-05:00

Love is central to Christianity.
You might not know it when considering some of the Christians you know. Christians are often divided and divisive. The Christians that go on cable news shows are chosen particularly because they are extreme. I am often embarrassed by what some people say in public “in the name of Jesus Christ.” I am tired of making excuses for “Christian celebrities.”

But even on a local level, Christians are conflict-ridden. Churches split for some of the silliest reasons. I don’t know what your experience has been in a local church but I am willing to guess that at some point you have been aware of some kind of trouble or division. It’s deplorable.
On one hand, this contradicts our mission: to love others and offer others the chance of being part of God’s family. But on the other hand, it just goes to show that we are still human. While the Church follows a perfect Lord and Savior, we who make up the Church are far from perfect. Certainly, there are some Christians who do many great things. I hope you know some of these Christians as well. But as a whole we are often understood to be petty and awkward. In a recent poll only 44 percent of non-Christians had a positive view of clergy and only 32 percent had a positive view of born-again Christians. This is sad.

If only we could love like Jesus loved. Jesus taught his followers that one of the greatest commandments is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus loved those everyone else ignored. Jesus loved the rich and poor alike. Jesus even went so far as to command His followers to love their enemies.

What Jesus commands is no easy task. We have a hard enough time loving our neighbors much less our enemies. We often find it difficult to be kind to our neighbors (co-workers, friends, associates, and strangers at the supermarket or in the car behind you). Though Jesus said “love one another,” many times we aren’t even pleasant to the people who sit in the same sanctuary.

Loving our enemies is an even greater challenge. To love people who look, think, act, and vote differently is not something that comes naturally. It is abnormal for a person to show kindness to someone who has deeply wronged him or her or caused him/her harm. To forgive and wish well someone who has caused physical, emotional, or spiritual pain is quite peculiar. To do this is super-human, divine; it is something only Jesus, the son of God, could suggest. Jesus sees both sinners and the sinned-against, both the perpetrator and the victim as deserving of love, forgiveness, and grace. And, he commands us to see others this way as well. To love is not an option; it is a requirement that can only be met by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit.

So, with God’s help, may we overcome our bitterness and strife. For those who have not wanted to associate with us because of our failure to love, I don’t blame you. I hope that you have not felt too uncomfortable while attending church. Yet, I fear there are some of you whom we have run out the door and may never see again. I pray that you will return. I pray we will learn together how to love and how to forgive. I pray that we, the Church, will learn to do better as we are given the opportunity to do so.

One church, four generations

2006-06-26T11:20:00.000-05:00

Right now I am reading One Church, Four Generations by Gary McIntosh. While some of his generational research is right on, there are some thoughts that seems to miss the boat. Anyhow, it got me a thinkin’ about the church I serve. It is a small, rural, “family/fellowshipping” church in the cornfields of Indiana. Yet, for a church it’s size and with such a history, in my experience it seems rare in its diversity of age.

If all of our "regulars" showed up on a given Sunday then we would have 94 people. We are only averaging about 75 on a given Sunday. A few of our regulars throw off the annual stats by not being quite as regular by going to Florida for several months or being sick for extended periods of time. But if we count everyone who would usually show up at least 3 Sundays a month then we have 94. Out of that 94, according to my own guesses at the ages:

24 are 65 and older
26 are between 40 and 65
17 are 19-40
27 are under 18 (with 23 of our regular kids being 3rd grade and below)

Not too bad in a conference in which the average age is 69.

Sometimes I wish it were a lie

2006-06-24T10:27:00.000-05:00

I heard on the radio a discussion about marriage. The “expert” was talking about dissatisfaction in marriages. It was suggested that many married individuals wished they could get out of their relationship. In fact, a Gallup Poll conducted in the United States found that 40 percent of married individuals had considered leaving their partners, and 20 percent said they were dissatisfied with their marriage about half the time. Stated another way, nearly half the couples in the United States currently divorce, and another 20 percent have seriously considered it. What would be the appeal of getting out of one’s marriage? Freedom, perhaps. A fresh start.

On some days, I wish it weren’t true. I do wonder what life may be like if it were all a lie. Perhaps, I too could taste the high life. Perhaps, I too could settle down. Maybe I would be a better husband and father if it weren’t true. Maybe I would live in the burbs, drive a new luxury SUV, golf on the weekends, have season tickets to my favorite sports teams, buy my wife expensive jewelry for holidays, and take my family on vacation cruises. I might even attend one of those classy mega churches with plasma TVs in the vestibule that tells the week's activities. If I am being honest I sometimes wonder what life would be like if it were a lie.

What if Jesus wasn’t God? What if God were just a creation of my imagination? What if all that stuff about death and resurrection, Holy Spirit and transformation was a myth? Would life be better if the Gospel of Jesus Christ was false? Would my life be better off if I wasn’t called into ministry? There are some days I wish it were not true.

But it is true. Jesus Christ is the son of God who came to this earth to die for the sins of all humanity. It is true that I am a sinner and I deserve nothing but death and damnation yet I am liberated by a cross and an empty grave. The fact of the matter is God calls us and the Spirit guides us into a life of discipleship. Jesus demands my all. I can’t have split allegiances. I can’t sleep in or play golf on Sunday mornings. I wouldn’t feel right driving a luxury SUV while people in my own community don’t have a home or health insurance or a job. I am a Christian. God has called me to be a pastor. So I have to live a life of self-sacrifice. And yes, there are days I am dissatisfied in my “marriage” to this calling. Recently, I have doubted my calling about every other day. Yet I am bound to go where God sends me in spite of the difficulty. My children may not understand. The congregation may make my life miserable.

There are days of depression. Today while making lunch for my family I just started to cry. Jesus said it will be like sheep among wolves. But Jesus also said that if we are to be his disciples we must deny ourselves, take up his cross, and follow after him. Follow him I must. I will follow him to the cross. I will speak the Truth even if it costs me everything. My conscience is bound. My life is not my own. I am committed to Jesus Christ. I don’t want to be a martyr, I want to be faithful; faithful to the Truth without selling out.

I tell myself that I am not in a popularity contest and that I should expect that people will not like me. After all I know that I can’t please everyone all of the time. People I thought I could trust turn on me. Sure some say they are behind me all the way – about 10 feet behind me when push comes to shove. And no matter what church I get appointed there will be some who dislike me. But it still hurts. The parking lots meetings give me concern. The petitions to try and force my hand cause me distress. Personal attacks made against me and my family cut deep. And those wounds are long to heal.

So in the midst of my tears I cry out to God, “I wish you were a lie. I wish Jesus Christ was just a crazy man who had grand illusions about himself and a flock of loyal followers who made a man into a deity.” If it weren’t true it would be like being in a difficult marriage only to find out one day that I am free to start over and live however I wanted. But it is true and that’s good news. So when I get past my stress I find joy. When I think past those few in the church who hate me, I can remember the few who love me and count on me. When I remember my calling and the support of my colleagues, when I think of those who have gone before me to speak the Truth, I am reminded that this journey with Jesus is no cake walk. Through the tears and hardships there is hope. I am free. My life is abundant. I am a child of the God of the universe. I am blessed with a wonderful family and much to be grateful for. And I have it all becase it is True.

When I get down these words bring me comfort:
As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6)

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4)

To be a Christian you have to be a little bit crazy

2006-06-23T15:49:00.000-05:00

If it seems were crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are not in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Whatever we do, it is because Christ’ love controls us. – 2 Corinthians 5:13-14

Author John Updike in his essay Incarnation observes that the entire Gospel narratives about Jesus are where “two worlds collide and Jesus overthrows common sense.” I think Updike nailed it. The Gospel’s of Jesus common sense is overthrown. Jesus said the last comes first, the meek and lowly overthrow the rich and powerful. Jesus said we are to hate our mothers and brothers, our spouse, our children and even ourselves. He says that his family are those who do God’s will. Everything about the Christian faith goes against the grain. In this world, everything that seems right is probably wrong, and everything that is prescribed by social wisdom really misses the point. It is all craziness. It is all foolishness from cover to cover. From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. But that’s what makes it so special. That’s why I love being a Christian. This stuff isn’t the stuff of just any craziness. All these people they were not just any old lunatics. These people were crazy for God and in return God was crazy for them. Sure enough it is all foolishness, but as Paul says it is all God’s foolishness! To be a Christian you have to be a little bit crazy.

At least that is what Jesus’ own mother had to say about it. In Mark 3, we are told that Jesus’ ministry had been very successful. Jesus was drawing in the crowds. He was teaching this upside-down faith, healing, driving out demons, and all that great stuff that God does when God walks the earth. Yet, when his family comes to him early on in his ministry this is what we are told in verse 21. “When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind!”

He is out of his mind; he is crazy! And if we are going to follow after him, from time to time it might be good to be reminded that we are a little out of our mind. It might be good to be reminded that what we believe goes against the grain. And because we believe what we believe some people might just think we are crazy.

Bonhoeffer once said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” If I gave you the key to the lion’s cage down at the local zoo, and told you that you could sleep there tonight. Would you do it? No, you would be crazy to do it. It would probably cost you you life. You see, the same is true for Christianity. Because Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose form the grave for our sins, you have been given the key to unlock the riches of a life abundant. But it is risky. It may be just as crazy as going to live with the lions. Because when you give your life to Christ, you put your life on the line.

This is the crazy life called discipleship. Jesus no longer wants us to hold onto conventional wisdom. When we give our lives to Jesus everything will be transformed. No longer will we conform to the patterns of this world. When the two worlds collide of our old ways and Jesus’ new ways then Jesus’ ways will prove to overthrow common sense. So c’mon I invite you, with Jesus Christ, to get a little bit crazy.

I am a human and I am a sinner

2006-06-17T16:25:00.000-05:00

We tend to think we are pretty good people. I am not sure why we believe such a thing. It may be that we quantify our “goodness” based on a scale of what appears “normal.” We are good as long as we think, act, sound, and smell like those who we consider to be good. If we are good people we will listen to the right music, vote for the right politician, hug our children, kiss our wives, and call our parents; maybe then God will be pleased.

Of course, it is all a lie. We are not as good as we may want others to believe. We are sinners. I am not pointing fingers at the people “out there.” All of us, believers and unbelievers, struggle with the sinful, rotten-to-the-core self. “For all have sinned and fallen short…” Paul writes in Romans. According to both Scripture and our United Methodist doctrine, all humanity is fallen, totally depraved, tainted by something called “original sin.” Considering what we are taught in Genesis, I prefer to say that none of us are anything but “dirt-bags.” Further, none of us deserve anything but the punishment of an eternity in Hell.

Now, I am aware that preachers in the 21st-Century are not supposed to talk about such nasty rumors. People do not want to get up early on Sunday morning, forego the golf course, yard work, Meet the Press, and small crowds at Wal-Mart, to hear the pastor tell them that they are “dirt-bags.” But, that is what I do. Perhaps, I am not always so blunt. Like Paul shows in his epistles, there are lots of ways to remind the congregation that we are still sinners.

I tend to think that part of the problem of commitment to Christ and His Body, the Church, both in the world and in the membership, is that we tend to think too highly of ourselves. We think we are good enough… good enough for God and certainly good enough to enter the Heavenly Gates. Why bother with God and The Bible and all of those commands? Why do we need the Church and all that talk about discipleship, tithes, evangelism, fellowship, and transformation? If acts of piety and/or charity, being a “good person,” acting “normal,” or simply holding to a list of certain beliefs is good enough, then we simply need God to notice how good and right we are.

Wesley wanted us, Methodists, to understand our status as “dirt bags” when he gave us Article VII of The Articles of Religion:

Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelegians do vainly talk), but in the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually. (Italics mine)

And so, humanity sorely needs divine grace. In my own life, I cannot begin to praise myself for being such a good father, loyal husband, superb preacher, compassionate pastor, and devoted Christian. In the life of the Church, we Christians should not begin to think too much about all the great works we do. It is dangerous to get swept away by such false ideas. What we need to remember is that we can do no good on our own.

Sure, we do good, all the good we can, as Wesley directs. We manage to do lots of great things. Christians, particularly United Methodists, are nothing if not mission-minded with a heart for loving the least, last, little, and lost. We help the poor, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the abused, share the good news all around the world. Yet, any good we do is the work of God in our lives. It is only by God’s grace, that we accomplish any good work. God uses us in our poor, sorry, sinful states to work out the master plan of salvation.If being a pastor has taught me anything, it is the need for divine grace. We can never be good or “normal” enough.

We cannot earn God’s grace. Grace is an “indescribable gift” given to believers and unbelievers alike. God loves us just as we are. This is great news. Though the world is fallen, good can be done; though we are sinners, we can do good. We can be good spouses, children, neighbors, employees, and fellow committee members and pew-sitters. More importantly, the world can still be redeemed (2 Peter 3:8-15a). All of this can be done only by God’s amazing grace through the blood of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in God’s Holy Church.

North Indiana and South Indiana to study merger

2006-06-16T07:22:00.000-05:00

courtesy of Indiana Area Office
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The North Indiana and South Indiana United Methodist Annual Conferences came one step closer to uniting into one conference following an affirmative vote tallied from both conferences during the Friday afternoon session of South Annual Conference meeting at Indiana University and announced Saturday morning, June 10.

The affirmative vote asks Indiana Area Bishop Michael Coyner to appoint a task force to develop a plan for uniting the two conferences for a recommendation to the 2007 Indiana annual conferences. The plan will be developed with input from all constituencies, both laity and clergy, of Hoosier United Methodists as well as all United Methodist-related institutions and agencies in Indiana. Information and plans from other conferences and denominations also will be sought.

The South Conference totals were 544 in favor, 138 opposed and 1 abstention.
The North Conference totals were 708 in favor, 167 opposed and 5 abstentions.
Eighty percent of both conferences favored to continue talking about a new conference.

If a plan of unity is approved by both annual conferences next year, the conferences would seek approval for a plan of unity from the United Methodist North Central Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction oversees nine-state region of the United States. The new conference would come into being following the jurisdiction’s blessings probably in May or June of 2009 or 2010, according to Coyner.

An apology

2006-06-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

I’m sorry.

For all of you reading this who have been hurt – emotionally, spiritually, or even physically – by the Church, I apologize. I wish I knew your pain. I wish I could feel your anguish. If only I could take it away from you and put it on myself, but I can’t. Perhaps, it is even ridiculous for me to think I can apologize for what others have done to you.

I can’t know what your life has been like since that pastor betrayed you. There is no way for me to know what it was like when “The Holy Huddle” made you the local punching-bag. I will never comprehend what it must feel like for you to hear those stories from your children about being made fun of by the “church kids.” The best I can muster through a blog is a sincere apology. I am truly sorry.

You must understand that the church has always been unfaithful. God’s people have always been two-faced. The prophets called us prostitutes and hypocrites. They were right. We who have been called out by God to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ have used our resources unfaithfully. We who have been called to be God’s mouth-piece have said some nasty things. We have gossiped, lied, slandered, murdered, warred, and abused our God-given authority in ways that are beyond my understanding. Honestly, the Church is itself the greatest objection to the truthfulness of Christianity. What the church has done throughout the ages and even today justifies atheism. We can be ugly, mean-spirited, and petty. It is tragic. The Church should be the greatest proof for the truthfulness of Jesus Christ. Yet, we often don’t look like Jesus at all.

What is worse is that in our attempt to reach out to the lost we sell-out once again. We surrender The Truth of Jesus for some vague “truth” without context. In our attempts to make up for the decline of new converts and members, the Church has tried every new idea and joined every movement. We want to be relevant to you. We so badly want you to come to our church rather than worship God we will entertain you and offer self-help classes. We will cut staff, missions, and outreach efforts in order to build bigger buildings with the latest technology. We will sing songs that warm our hearts instead of challenge our living. Some pastors want to be in the “inner circle” of the latest spiritual trends.

It seems that every few weeks there’s a new book outlining the newest spiritual formula by which we can get all that God has to offer us, be it “victorious” Christian living or spiritual blessings of all kinds. We can’t wait to get on the bandwagon hoping that maybe this will be the missing piece that we’ve been looking for. The Church and Her leaders don’t attempt to be counter-cultural anymore; we have simply become a sub-culture of the dominant, market-driven, pop-psychology culture. Our goal is no longer to “make disciples,” instead we desire to “make you feel good.” This is part of the reason we have been so unfaithful. We are so distracted and that we overlook the wounds we have caused.

It is time we repent. It is time we admit that we are wrong. An apology is long overdue. And it is time that we do something about it. It is past time that we trade in our intellectual, apologetic answers for the plain Truth. Our hope in other institutions and ideologies must be swapped for The Gospel of Jesus Christ. To be faithful, the Church must now be The Body of Christ. This is our confession and we plea for your pardon. I don’t blame you for being upset. And I will pray everyday that you will find it in your heart to forgive us, to come back to us, to hold us accountable, and to help us be more faithful and loving.

Summary of North Indiana Conference actions

2006-06-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick and brief “newsflash” on some of the actions of the North Indiana Conference Annual Conference held June 1-3, 2006 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

Merger - Regarding the recommendation to continue conversation about a possible merger with the South Indiana Conference the vote was done with a written ballot and it was announced the ballots would be sealed until after the South Indiana Conference has a similar discussion and vote at its Annual Conference on June 8-10. Thus, at this time the result of the vote by the NIC is unknown.

Capital Campaign for Camps – The following were approved: (1) No camp properties will be sold at this time, (2) The immediate need is for 16 million dollars to upgrade facilities, (3) A study will be conducted to determine the campaign goal based on the feasibility of what the Conference can raise, (4) Following the feasibility study and endorsement by CF&A a Capital Funds Campaign will be launched, and (6) Projects will not be undertaken unless either 100% of the funds are in hand or 50% is in hand and CF&A has given approval to move forward based on pledge amounts.

Per Diem – CFA had recommended there be no per diem for lay delegates and others beginning in 2007. However, this was successfully amended to continue paying per diem in 2007 including for lay delegates.

Conference Budget – The Conference Total Budget for 2007 was approved at $10,063,732 plus the addition of the per diem that is a $40,000 item in the 2006 Budget.

Thanks to my friend Russ Phillips at Now Let's See blog and the Laity NICUMC web site for this great summary. 20 years from now, more or less, most clergy in our conference will be thanful for Russ and his watchdog approach to conference action. Thank you Russ for your ministry. You have my support!

Did your church do anything special for Memorial Day?

2006-05-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

I hope John the Methodist, at Locust and Honey, or Shane Raynor, at WesleyDaily, pick up this question. I really would like to know what many different churches did, if anything, in honor of Memorial Day.

I will share my story next week. Suffice it to say that we remembered Jesus' Ascension on Ascension Sunday and I did nothing particular for this civil holiday.

Discussing "Imagine Indiana" with Bishop Coyner

2006-05-25T20:48:00.000-05:00

This morning I attended the discussion Bishop Coyner had with the young adult clergy (and those new to ministry). The gathered crowd included many clergy between mid-20s to upper-50s or so (Bishop Coyner didn’t set an age limit.)

Anyhow, as I suspected much of the discussion centered on the m-word, merger. Bishop Coyner began by stating the purpose of the discussion: to discuss the merger. So right away I knew that there would be no real discussion about another m-word, ministry. The Bishop prefaced his remarks by stating: “I am not here to sell either answer.” He went on to explain that he wanted younger clergy to have their input and to let their voice be heard in the discussion about the future of our conference.

The discussion continued with an explanation of much that is in the Pre-conference material. He took us through the last 40 years since the last restructure of the conference at the 1968 merger of the EUB and the Methodist Church. He spent lots of time talking about geographical boundaries and possible boundaries. He asked, “Is it time for a new Indianan Conference”?

Bishop Coyner also shared an insider story about his appointment by Jurisdictional Conference to serve as bishop of the Indiana Area. He said that the delegates from North and South Indiana requested a Bishop who could help lead them forward with a merger. In other words, he came to Indiana to help the conference continue discussion on merger.

Some of the advantages and goals of the new conference according Bishop Coyner are the following:

Organized around mission of making disciples
A streamlined structure designed to equip local churches
A "flattened" committee structure designed to engage people in ministry not just meetings
Stewardship built around tithing at all levels
Focus on missions giving not just maintenance
A growing outreach to youth and young adults as we reach a new generation for Christ
Continued passion for justice and mission
Local churches groups in affinity groups in geographical areas.

This was followed by a Q&A. There were questions about financial issues, timelines, Insurance and pension polices, appointments, ministry and ministry priority.

Regarding finances it was again emphasized that a merger will streamline much of the conference “bureaucracy” (my words).

Regarding timelines the Bishop said that an extensions to 2012 is possible. (Personally I think this is the way to go). He also said later that we could slowly move into certain aspects of the merger.

The Insurance in South Conference is self-managed. It was shared that in South Conference health insurance is $1800 a month and the church pays that entire sum.

Many expressed concern about being appointed to Evansville. Personally, I think all of us should set aside our personal gripes. Wesley said, “The world is my parish.” Maybe it is because I am not from Indiana and I don’t have family in any part of the Hoosier state, but I think we clergy should live up to our vows to be itinerant.

When asked about the ministry advantages, the Bishop gave no compelling reasons. This was particularly disappointing. Perhaps, some of you who were there can better explain the ministry advantages. While one of the bullet points the Bishop highlighted in his presentation was the idea of reaching out to younger generations, there is no more explanation of what that really means. Personally, I compare it to a politician saying, “Vote for me because I care about the kids.” I see no reasons that a merger will help our churches and pastors and laity reach out to youth and young adults.

The bishop did tell that while the average age of a UM is 57; the average age of a UM in North Indiana is 69. did everyone get that? The average United Methodist in North Indiana is 69! WOW!!!

After the discussion was a short break and then we gathered into groups to discuss three questions: What are the positives of the merger, concerns of the merger and any additional question or information. This was mostly a repeat of everything that has been discussed up to this point.

My evaluation: if you didn’t attend you didn’t miss anything. I am still not convinced that now is the right time for merger with South Conference. I am even more convinced that we need another 4 years to get more worked out in advance before a total merger. Additionally, I am convinced that we need not only a “lank slate” to re-think the conference structure but we need that “blank slate” to re-think how we do all ministry in the United Methodist Church in Indiana. Merger is not going to attract young people. A passion to reach young people is not going to be sparked by merger. We need to be thinking about how to reach young adults but there was no quality discussion at this meeting about doing any kind of effective ministry. This is what is most disappointing.

Bishop Coyner did encourage some of us to start a “Young Adult Fellowship,” a caucus if you will within the conference. Personally I think this is a great idea and I hope that some of us can work together to make this a reality. Sure some may be offended if you put an age limit on it, but such is life. I am not part of the retired ministers fellowship either (one day perhaps).