Now that the US economy is tanking,  and our national debt has hit the three-trillion mark--the highest ever--Congress has decided to give out money in the form of tax rebates.   This is the same sort of deficit spending our citizens already engage in -- borrowing from the future on our credit cards, and paying dearly for the privilege. 

For many years the U.S. Government has refused to waive the debt of third-world countries.  It occurs to me now that should our economy falter further, no one will have much pity on us.  In my religious tradition, we used to recite the words to the Lord's Prayer.  Rather than "sins" or "trespasses," we used the word "debtor."  

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive out debtors.   Oops.

So next time Pat Robertson and friends are looking for a reason that God is "punishing" America (I don't believe that He is, mind you), let's remember the subjects that Jesus actually taught about--love, forgiveness, and.... money.

In that spirit, here's my bipartisan Dream Team for America....with a few extra national treasures thrown in.

President - Barack Obama.

Vice President - Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State - Dick Lugar

Secretary of Commerce - Mitt Romney

Secretary of Defense - John McCain

Secretary of Homeland Security - Rudy Giuliani

Secretary of the Treasury - Mike Huckabee

Secretary of the Interior, or perhaps Attorney General - John Edwards

Secretary of Health and Human Services - Bill Gates

• www.meevee.com  TV guide meets Tivo and Youtube
• www.squarespace.com Truly awesome web publishing
• www.wetpaint.com  Finally, easy-to-setup wiki for everbody
• www.backpackit.com To-do lists and simple web pages
• www.basecamphq.com simple project management
• www.allrecipes.com - nicest interface for private / semipublic online recipe file
• www.myrecipes.com - best totally free recipe file

• Something contemporary.  Whether a separate service, or a nod to change in the traditional service, there needs to be some acknowledgement that no matter how great your traditional worship, it is not indigenous to the people around you.
• Racial, ethnic, age diversity
• Joy.  There should be a sense of gladness to come together, signs that the people in the church are excited to see one another and are engaged in each other's lives.  As I reflect on all the churches of which I've chosen to be a part, this is plainly obvious as people chatter before church, and linger after.
  
• Service.  The church should be engaged in the larger community and serving the poor and needy.
• Open minds.  Not an overly fundamentalist congregation so committed to the "infallible Word of God!" that they overlook the fallible translations of man.
• Young adults.  Just a few, friendly ones would be fine.  But I need to know there are some people there with whom I can become friends and activity partners.
• And, though not at all a requirement, it would be nice to be a part of a church with something OLD as well as something contemporary.  I loved being at a church where I had symphony, choir, AND rock band.  That was indigenous to ME.
• KJV-free.  The church should use a more contemporary , and more accurate, translation of the Bible as its primary translation.

Slightly off topic, but on another note, I think that in an area like Washington, DC, there need to be new or changing churches NOT ONLY to attract new believers, but to assemble like-minded folks.  Typically, I would agree that churches shouldn't try to grow through stealing other churches' members.   But in this city, there seems to be such a lack of authenticity in the churches (that is, they dress, behave, and worship in a way that is not representative of the truth of their people).  I think the mission statement from Ginghamsburg applies here -- "To win the lost and set the oppressed free."    And in this case, the "oppressed" include younger adults being buried alive in the dead traditions of the old church.

 By the way, if you think church "shopping" is a bad idea, I head someone refer to it as "dating" to find the right relationship.

Herein are simply my notes after visiting.

 St James UMC

 Wow! A truly contemporary congregation, or "indigenous" as they refer to themselves.  Still quite a small church, but very authentic.  Finally a church that felt "real."  They're also pretty successful at  the challenge of doing contemporary worship with a smaller congregation, which can be really tough.

Contemporary music headed in the right direction, fully video-ready, diverse age & racial mix, service to the homeless.  Sacred cows are dead. Ready to grow.

Foundry UMC

Uber social justice.  Building homes for the homeless in cooperation with the Mayor.

Phenomenal choir.  Magnificent neighborhood presence.  5 blocks from the White House.

Old Presbyterian Meeting House 

Deeply rooted in history, but very much alive.  The Sunday evening "contemporary" service, however, is only contemporary by George Washington's standards.

Welcoming people, age mix, in Old Town, sponsor concert series, moderate theology. 

In true United Methodist tradition, this was a singing congregation.  As I stood waiting my turn, and knelt to receive the elements, I didn't have the lyrics to sing along.  Instead, I was simply bathed in the song of others, reverberating through the marvelous acoustics of the church. 

What a powerful metaphor for the Church!  Sometime we are the singers, carrying on the tune that has been sung for two millenia, and serving those who are not able to sing along.  At other times, we are the ones bathed in the songs of others, while God's grace is extended to us.

In MMOGs like Second Life, more information about any object or person is available with just a right-click of the mouse. Right-click:properties.  Or, even better, the player's name hovers overhead.  Anyone who has ever attended a conference or trade show can tell you how much easier it is to talk to someone when you don't have to struggle to remember their name.

In online social communities like Myspace, I can learn all about a person before deciding if I want to meet them, or even talk to them.  I can have a deeper relationship with a stranger in the first conversation than I have with longtime acquaintances.

Back to the physical world.  I find myself wanting to right-click a highway intersection to find out who designed it, and then send them an email explaining why it doesn't work.  Or right-click a building material to find out who manufactured it. I want names that hover overhead.  If you're an interesting looking person, I want to read more about you to find out if we have something in common to talk about.

It is only a matter of time until the information amenities we have come to expect online will find a way into the real world. 

Some already have--take, for example, the Asian cell phones which can identify songs playing in any commercial or on TV.  Right-click:title.

Ran across this stellar quote about relationships from an urban planner in TX, which could easily apply to me, too. "One bad thing about me is that I have no sense of timing in friendships and relationships. The analogy is in driving my car: I'll wait forever to make a left turn, and then, nervous because of the cars accumulating behind me, dart into traffic. The result is that in my desire for people I'm afraid to touch them, and then elbow them in the ribs." (http://www.myspace.com/mikeyfine)